He was walking. That's really all he ever did now a days. He refused to use the transportation that had been invented years ago. It would just make him forget more and he didn't need that. He walked past a McDonald's and scowled. The food was so fattening. Restaurants didn't use to be like this. And they didn't used to be so expensive either. He remembered when people actually had to work to get something done and not have a machine do it for you. That was fine, though. There were much worse things that existed.
Things like pollution, burning up the ozone layer that protected them all. Even though his beliefs were far from it, he could appreciate the things science has done. But he thought that it was enough. They didn't need to explore any more of the universe. It was what it was. But people didn't want to accept that answer. Thus began the changing and curiosity in things that piqued everyone's interest. Things that some shouldn't know for it would scare them to death and now it has. People are now scared of what lies out in the universe instead of living in it.
That's what he feared when people started to forget. Forget his teachings, forget his friends, forget him. Not a single person today could say the name of what was once the Dragon Warrior. He was imaginary, a legend, a story to children that encouraged them to be what they wanted to be. As if he never even existed except in the minds of morals. And now they were scared. Scared of what was out there in the universe. If only they had followed him instead of them. They wouldn't be scared like they are now, wondering when the earth will perish instead of living each moment in the present.
It killed him inside and he was glad that he didn't have to suffer for much longer. A thousand years, just like Oogway.
Just like Oogway.
He grabbed the keys from his pocket and opened up the glass door. Da- Mr. Ping wouldn't be happy if he woke up to an empty restaurant. Mr. Ping, a goose that reminded him of someone he used to know, was too old to open up shop anymore, so he had Po do it. Mr. Ping trusted him after proving that he could keep the shop running without haste for an entire day. He was truly impressed when he found his shop cleaner and running much more smoothly than any of his other employees had. He felt happy working in a noodle shop again, and with Mr. Ping, he just wished it wasn't in this way. The shop didn't open for another hour and Po had a lot of preparation to do.
He entered the kitchen and put on his apron. It was sad that he could barely remember when his father used to do it for him. It seemed so long ago. It was so long ago. He started the stove, him giving the idea to Mr. Ping that it was healthier to boil the dumplings instead of fry them. Mr. Ping thought it was a good idea too. He brought out the flour to make the noodles. Mr. Ping refused to use prepackaged noodles and Po was ok with this. It would help him remember the good old days.
As he pounded the dough, he couldn't help but think about how things had changed. It's really all he's ever thought about. Technology was now a huge part of people's life and there wasn't a day that went by that he didn't see someone taking a selfie or showing someone a new app. They now had scooters that rode themselves and, to be honest, the only thing he liked was a bike. They required no technology at all. Except for making it of course. It was a nice touch to this new society that relied so much on technology. He really hated technology. New things used to fascinate him, but then new things started becoming useless as time went on. Some products he watched become real were now old contraptions. What once made animals' eyes go wide, didn't even make anyone bat an eye as the years went on. It made him sad, how they could forget such a thing that was so new and "In". The universe wasn't cruel, oh no! Not the universe, never the universe. It was animals who were cruel.
As time went on, animals started taking advantage of things like each other, love was a lot harder to find now a days now that animals could find pleasure wherever they went. He remembered it took him years to finally realize he was in love with his best-friend. And now people jump from animal to animal without a second thought and trust getting broken and hearts getting crushed. Some things about that was good, people got to choose who they wanted instead of having an arranged marriage, women didn't have to have children if they didn't want to and they could get an education.
But, the thing was, education was the only way someone could get a job, no diploma, no wage to live off of. He was glad he was able to save an entire fortune over the years. He had billions, not that anyone knew. And he didn't want anyone to know. All he needed was rent and food money, and whatever he found instantly went to the place he hid everything. No one could find it, no one. He had made sure of it. From the farthest parts of China, it would take a week to get there. And on foot. He didn't need a plane or a car or anything. Not even his bike. He could journey there, just like the good old days. Where you didn't need a piece of paper to show that you existed because you knew you existed and that was enough. You didn't need a piece of paper to show you had an education because you knew what you knew and it was enough.
But soon everyone wanted to know too. They wanted to know who you were and where you lived and what you did which is why he could never stay in one place. He didn't age. So he traveled. He never changed his name and when people asked where he was from, it was always China. He had met a few people twice and they would tell him stories of himself and why he reminded them of him. It was very depressing because what they knew wasn't real. He couldn't remember everything, but when he did, he would cry. Cause everything was lifetimes ago. He would look back at those days and the sad truth that he could never go back haunted him throughout his years. He could never go back to the time where love existed, where people accomplished things by themselves, where no one fussed about technology, where everyone knew who he was, where his friends were, where his wife was.
But she was gone and so were his friends. And they were never coming back.
He sighed as he chopped off the dough that wasn't noodles. Placing them in the pot to boil, he wiped the tears he didn't know he was shedding.
"You ok," asked someone behind him. From the voice, he could tell it was Li-Shan. He was Mr. Ping's partner, or boyfriend as the new word called it. He was an old Panda, a bit younger than Mr. Ping, but still up there. They had been together for years. He distinctly remembered that they wanted to get married before they died, but China didn't accept Gay marriages, at least, not yet anyway. That was one of the good things of the new world, people could love who they wanted. Some people just didn't get that.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He let his apron fall. "What are you doing here so early?"
"I came to check up on you," he answered, looking around. Ingredients and kitchenware were out and about. Po seemed to be the only one here, which was not a good thing. Ladonna was supposed to be here too. It was her shift too. He would have to tell Ping about this. "So what's wrong?"
"Nothing really," he answered. "Just thinking about things I shouldn't. I should really put on some music, it distracts the mind." So much that without it, you're doomed. He went over to the old radio, one that Mr. Ping has had since he built this place 60 years ago, and turned it on. It was on an old station playing anything other than pop and he was happy with that.
"You sure you don't want to talk about it?" Li would do anything to help the youngster. "I'm always right here. I see you as my son, Po, even if I've only known you for a few years. You don't have to keep things from me, you can trust me." He truly did see him as his son. He never had a son before, no matter how he and his deceased wife tried. She was barren and there was nothing they could do. The week they decided to stop being sad and just adopt, she died in a fire. They caught the peacock who did it, but Li still had some scars from it. Like how his lungs would never be the same and he had to carry an inhaler around. There was one good thing that came out of it and that was Ping. He was hoping Po would be a second.
Po smiled at him, it was his first real smile in months. "I'll tell you about it someday, don't worry, Mr. Li. I'll be fine. Now, go," he said, cheerily. "Tell Mr. Ping that everything's alright. I have it all under control."
"You sure?"
"I'm positive." He started taking out the sweet and sour sauce ingredients. "I'll see you later, dad," he said with a slip of his tongue. Usually he was able to control it, but it just slipped out this time. He turned to him, eyes wide. "I am so sor-," he stopped when Li held up a hand. There was a huge smile plastered on his face.
"No need to apologize," he said with the happiest tone he could muster without squealing. "I see you as a son, remember. I get it if you want to call me dad," he said, trying to act cool about it. Po could see right through it, though. He really wanted him to be his son. "There's no problem with that, no siree~." He started backing out of the kitchen, the smile still plastered on his face. "Any problems you just call on old Dad."
"I will," Po called after with a smile of his own. He heard the doorbell go off, signaling it had been opened and closed. Li. He was just like him and it killed him inside. But Li would let him call him dad, which was fine. Would Mr. Ping?
A few songs later, the doorbell went off again. "Sorry I'm late!" Yelled a feminine voice. That was Ladonna, a young lioness of 32 who only had this job so that she could have some money during the weekends. Po never told Mr. Ping that she was always late because she had good reasons to have money during the weekends. Like taking her kids out to eat. He once bumped into her during an evening walk and she was headed to a restaurant for her little boy's birthday. The boy was turning two and the little six year old darling took an instant shine to him, loving his soft fur. She had invited him and he had accepted. The next morning he came to work with a toy car, something he was sure Ayo would love. Ladonna smiled at him with such gratefulness, he felt like his old self again, if only for a second. "The Daycare-"
"Opened late again?" The Daycare was supposed to open at seven, but usually opened 40 minutes late because those who worked there were either really young or really old. It didn't help her at all that she had errands to do before work and needed to get the kids there as soon as possible. Amara would be going to school after summer, so all she really needed to worry about was Ayo.
"Yeah." She took off her coat and hung it up, putting on her apron afterwards. "So, what have you gotten started," she asked, looking around the kitchen. The dumplings were and noodles were broiling, Po was making the sweet and sour sauce. The bean buns and broth haven't been started. "I'll do the broth first that way I have some time to make the bean buns."
"Go, Ladonna," Po said, congratulating her. Being a single mother really put her out of sorts and she sometimes couldn't function in this kitchen so he would applaud her every time she thought up something rational. "You know, I remember when Daycares actually did their jobs." When they didn't charge any money and did it for the sheer joy of their love for children.
"Yeah, don't I know it," she laughed. "Times are just gonna keep getting harder and harder, that's for sure."
Po didn't think it could get any worse but he agreed anyway. He was glad he wouldn't be there to see it. "So how is Amara doing?"
"She's doing fine. Her birthday is coming up and she keeps asking if "Uncle Po" is going to be there. I haven't answered her yet."
"When is it? I'd be happy to go."
"Her birthday's going to be at the park. I've been saving up some money from my second job to be able to hire games for all the kids. She's going to be so excited."
She said it with so much happiness that it brought a smile to his face. "Is he going to be there," he asked, a smirk on his face.
"Oh my gosh, yes! It's his first time meeting the kids and I'm extremely nervous. I mean, I should've introduced them to him sooner, we have been dating for almost a year already, but I was scared. I really hope he likes them."
Po took a glance at her and noticed that her hands were shaking as she was chopping the bok choy. He went over to her, turned her towards him, and looked her in the eye. "He is going to love your kids, ok. They're both such sweethearts. You shouldn't be worried about him. You should be worried about them."
She looked at him confused. "What, why?"
"Believe me when I say that neither of you are in charge of your relationship, the kids are. If the kids don't like him, there is no future."
She gasped. "I haven't thought of that. Oh my gosh! What if the kids don't like him?!"
"If he's as perfect as you described, they're going to love him too. So calm down." He gave her one of his award-winning smiles. "We have a restaurant to run."
"Ok, ok," she said, taking deep breaths. "I'm calm, I'm calm." She grabbed the knife again and started chopping the bokchoy more thoroughly.
"So when is the party," Po asked.
"Next Saturday. It's going to be great."
"There's going to be a lot of children?"
"Yes, I invited all the mothers from the daycare."
Po fist pumped. "I love children."
"Which makes me wonder why you're still single."
"I had a wife…once." He never really spoke of her, but the little he did gave people a reason to back off.
"Did you guys divorce or something?"
"Uh, no, not really. She um… died." That was the cue that told them to back off.
"Oh," she said, not really sure what to think of that. "How long ago?"
He tried doing the math in his head. He stopped aging once he hit 50, and she had died protecting China twenty years later. But there was that whole thousand year thing. So what exactly could he say? "Ten years ago?" That was such little time.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did she die?"
"In battle," he said before he could stop himself. It was what he told those who asked so long ago. No one's ever asked him since. Until now.
Wow, his wife used to be in the military. "Oh, well, at least she didn't die for nothing," she tried soothing. "She was protecting the country."
Po had a small smile. "Yeah, yeah she was. She as always a stubborn warrior, she would've died sooner had I not been there. Always putting herself in danger."
"I didn't know you were also in the Military?"
"Yeah, the military." He was talking about when people were actually warriors and volunteered to protect their country, not now where people's names had to be drawn. There were still some warriors out there, it's just that cowards overruled them.
Ladonna could see that he was upset. "I'm sorry that I'm such a curious feline. It's in my biology."
"No need to apologize. I'm fine. Scars heal." As if that were true anymore.
"Wounds heal," Ladonna corrected.
Po nodded. He could remember a similar conversation with a certain peacock. "Well, I have to live in the now, even if it is terrible. Nothing good ever happened thinking about the past."
Ladonna nodded. "You're surprisingly wise. Are you sure you're only fifty? You sound like a thousand years old," she laughed.
Po let out a laugh of his own. "Yeah, a thousand years." Just like Oogway.
Just like Oogway.
He walked in the restaurant, more nervous than anything. He turned to his sister. "I don't think this is a good idea."
"What?!" Seethed a tigress wearing a head cloth and sunglasses. "This was your idea to come and surprise her at work. So you better go and walk over to the damn cashier and get us a table. I will kill you if you've wasted my morning off. I really want to meet her."
"Alright, alright," he said. "Don't get your tail in a twist," he muttered.
"Say that again, Tai-lung, and we'll see whose tail gets twisted."
He started walking faster, leaving her behind to smirk at her progress.
"Hello," he said to the young crocodile. "Table for two please."
"Right this way," he said.
"So where is she," she asked.
"Calm down, would you? You're making me more nervous than I should be. This is your first time meeting her. DON'T embarrass me."
"Me?" She asked, feigning innocence. "Your sweet sister? Never!" She had so many pictures of his idiocy, it was sure to kill his ego should it get too big.
"Tigress, I'm not kidding, this one's the one. I can tell."
"Yeah, yeah, you and your sappy romance. Didn't you get enough of it as a teenager? You weren't too hard on the eyes when you were young."
Tai-lung smiled. "Oh, dear sister, do I hear a compliment in that insult?"
"Take a moment to hear what you just said and you'll see why I'm the one who does the teasing," she explained as she sat down.
"I hate you," he said, scowling.
"I hate you more," she said, opening the menu.
"I hate you most," he said, triumphant smile.
She rolled her eyes as she scanned the room. Not many people which made sense since the restaurant just barely opened. Tai-lung must really like this girl if he woke up any time before noon just to see her. There also weren't many workers either. She took off her items for now, hoping no one recognized her. They'd probably be packed at noon.
"We'll have a waiter for you in just a second," the crocodile, Ozzy as his nametag read, said. "While you wait, would you like anything to drink?"
"I'll have a Coke," Tai-lung said.
"I'll just have some lemonade," Tigress answered.
"Alright, your waiter or waitress will bring these to you. You guys are new faces. The staff will be happy to meet you two."
Tigress raised her brows with a smile as the crocodile walked away. "Just one big family, this restaurant is. I hope you get death threats," she laughed.
"Why would I get death threats?" Why was she so confusing?
"This is just one big family. They all probably see her as a sister. So prepare for death threats if you "Break her heart"," she laughed.
"I am not going to get death threats."
"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?"
"Fine, if I get a single death threat…" He thought about it. He already owed Tigress a lot. "…I'll pay for both meals." He held out a hand and she shook it to seal the deal.
"Ladonna," Ozzy called into the kitchen. "A coke and lemonade for table five. Also, they're new arrivals."
"Ooh," she and Po said at the same time. "That's means-"
"Complimentary dumplings," Po finished. He grabbed a basket and put some dumplings in it as Ladonna went to fill the drinks. He placed the basket on her head as she exited the kitchen doors.
When Ladonna saw who was sitting at the table, she almost dropped the dumplings from her head. She walked over very slowly, wondering who the tigress was. "Tai-lung," she said with a big smile.
"Ladonna," he said, smile of his own. He got up and helped her settle the things down.
"What are you doing here?" Especially with another woman.
"Someone wanted to meet you," he said, nervously. Tigress was usually the one to point out who was genuine or not about his feelings.
Tigress looked the lioness up and down before she nodded. "She's good." She then stood up and held out a paw. "I'm Tigress. I'm sure you've heard of me. And any embarrassing things he told you about me, it was probably him."
"Oh!" She said, no longer worried. "So you're his sister! It's really nice to meet you. And all those embarrassing things he told me about you actually make sense now that I know its all him."
Tigress nodded. "My brother is an idiot and I'm wondering how he found you. You're nice, beautiful, and I hear you have children. Must have been some stroke of luck."
"Fate," Tai-lung interjected. "Grandpa says everything happens for a reason."
"He thinks you're the one," Tigress said.
Tai-lung glared at her and mouthed "I hate you". She only smiled at the look of happiness across Ladonna's face. She seemed just as serious about him as he did about her. This could be her new sister in law. That's a good thing.
"Anyway," Ladonna said, smile still nice and wide. "I'm still on the clock so I have to get back and help Po in the kitchen. So what would you guys like?"
Tigress snapped her head towards the lioness when she said "Po". "Is there any way that this "Po" character could bring us our food?"
"Oh, yes, that's his job. We take turns for everything, we're just one big family here."
After getting their orders, Ladonna went back to the kitchen to have their food made. Tai-lung turned to Tigress. "So, this "Po". Do you know him?"
Tigress thought about it. The name sounded very familiar. "I think I do. I'll know when I see him." She was drinking her lemonade for a second until she remembered something. "Wait, if they take turns, then who gets the tip?"
"I need a Justice Platter and some Spicy Noodle Soup."
"That'll be ready in a few," he said, tasting the rice.
"He's here," Ladonna said, a smile present on her face.
He stared at her for a second. "…Who?"
"Him," she said, eyes sparkling. "And so is his sister. She wanted to meet me. Isn't this amazing, I'm already meeting his family! This means it's serious. Oh, I can't wait for him to meet the kids!"
Po smiled as he poured the soup into a bowl. She was finally going to be with someone who cared about her, unlike that stupid, good for nothing ex-husband of hers. From what he knew, he walked out on her and his kids for another woman. Also, update, his father had disowned him for not being able to keep a wife. That was a victory day for he and Ladonna. "I'm glad you're going to have the happily ever after you've always dreamed of."
"Happily ever afters don't exist. Good lives do," Ladonna said. "And I think the rest of mine is going to be great."
Po added the dumplings to the Justice Platter. "That is true. But you shouldn't think of the future too much. It's just as bad as looking into the past."
"Are you sure you're not some wise old man," she joked. "You're too insightful for this century."
Po had only let out a laugh before Ozzy came back in. "Eight cream sodas for the bunny family at table 12."
"I'll get that," Ladonna said, making her way to the drink fountain. "While you take that," she pointed at the finished order. "To table five."
"Service with a smile," Po said, faking a smile as he picked up the orders.
He was walking over to the table. That's when he saw her and all her striped beauty. It was as if time slowed as the orders fell from his hands and crashed to the tile floor. The entire restaurant went quiet as they looked to the source of the loud crash.
"Po!" Worried voices said. Suddenly, he was surrounded by all the staff. Ladonna checking his forehead for a temperature, Mr. Ping and Li asking if he was alright, and Ozzy trying to pick up the mess while giving worried glances at him.
"I-I'm, fine," he said, coming back to the real world. He took a glance at everyone in the restaurant, whose eyes were on him in worry. The only one that mattered though was the tigress, whose eyes were analyzing him. His stomach started feeling weird and he could feel something coming up his throat. "Never mind." He ran to the bathroom, making sure to keep his distance from the tigress.
"Po," they all ran after him.
Tai-lung got up and ran after Ladonna. "What's happening?"
"I don't know, but I'm about to find out," she said as she rushed into the men's room while everyone seemed to stop.
Tigress walked up to her brother. "Did she just run into the men's room?" And what was wrong with that panda? Did he need medical attention? She could have someone here in less than ten minutes if that were the case. Plus, anything for someone she used to know. And she did know this panda. She just wished she could have gotten a closer look of what he looked like. He was very familiar.
"Po," Ladonna said through the stall door after his hacking ceased. "Is everything ok? Do you need anything?"
Po was trying to catch his breath. "Why are you…in the men's room?"
"I came to check up on you. Are you fine? Do we need to call an ambulance? Tai-lung's sister could probably get one here in a short time."
"Who?"
"Tai-lung's sister," she answered.
Goodness, he hadn't even noticed the leopard after his eyes fell on her. His stomach was coming up again.
Ladonna winced as she heard him hacking more. "Are you ok now?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said, voice hoarse. He just thought he would never see them again. Not until he got to the spirit realm of course. Masters were supposed to be filled with peace, he could understand why Tai-lung was here, but why her. He couldn't say her name. He hasn't said it in a thousand years. Not since she… But how was she here? She had achieved peace and chi and had been the most wonderful mother in the world, she should have been in the spirit realm with every other master. Why was she here?! He got up and exited the stall, heading over to the sink to wash his hands and rinse his mouth. He then looked himself in the mirror. He hadn't aged since she… And she had just been reborn. He burst out crying.
"Po!" Ladonna came up to him and hugged him. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head. This was pointless. Crying wasn't going to do any good. He turned to her with a watery smile. "I'm fine. Just thinking of things I'm not supposed to. I don't know why they keep coming. I thought I was over it, but I guess I'm not. I'm fine though."
"You need a therapist or someone Po, this isn't normal."
"There are different definitions of normal, Ladonna. There's not a day that goes by that I don't burst out crying for no absolute reason."
"Are you depressed? There are people who can help you with that."
He shook his head. "You don't understand, I'm not supposed to be like this. I'm supposed to be this happy go lucky panda that everyone loves, but he's gone now."
"…Are you not over your time in the military?" She had a feeling that that might be the thing he couldn't get over.
He met her eyes before he looked away again. He wasn't over anything these past thousand years. He was actually happy this was his last life.
"Tigress, go check what's wrong?" Tai-lung smacked her arm.
She looked at him. "Are you stupid? That's the men's room! You go check."
"There's a woman in there, though."
"…That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. That's your girlfriend. Go."
"So you're the new man in Ladonna's life," an old goose said. "We'll all murder you if you hurt her."
"We're not kidding," and old panda said.
"Yeah~, we'll have to kill you," said Ozzy.
Tai-lung, feeling worried, took a glance at Tigress, who was smiling. "Why are you smiling?"
"You have to pay both meals now."
His eyes widened in realization. "I hate you."
"I'm sure you do," she said, walking past everyone and into the men's room. "Ladonna," she called. "Your husband's worried about you."
"Don't say that," Tai-lung hissed before she let the door closed. Now, apparently, he couldn't go in. How did men make sense, honestly?
When she saw Ladonna, her eyes were widened. It must have been that joke about the husband thing, that could've caught her off guard. She really needed to work on her hard attitude. The panda, Po, had his back turned to her. "Tell Tai-lung I'm fine, would you?" She asked, sweetly.
"Isn't this the men's room," Po said, wanting them to get out of here already.
That voice sounded familiar too. "Yes, but there are women in here now, so... The fact that he thinks there's logic in that makes me wonder how you found my brother."
Ladonna let out a giggle. Then she turned to Po. "Are you fine now?"
He was going to have to face her sooner or later and, right now, later didn't seem like an option. "Yeah…yeah. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
He turned to her with a smile. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll just have to clear my mind for the rest of the day. It helps." He couldn't do it all the time, since it took too much energy, but when he was able to do so, he could forget about everything in the past and just focus on the now. He turned to the tigress without really looking at her. He just couldn't. "I'll, uh, get your meals. Don't worry." He rushed out of the bathroom as fast as he could, making sure not to even brush shoulders with the tigress.
Ladonna came out with Tigress, still worried nonetheless.
"What happened," Mr. Ping asked.
Ladonna looked at Mr. Ping, then the swinging doors that led to the kitchen, and then back to Mr. Ping. "I don't think it's my place to say. I think it's the anniversary of something, though."
"Well, have to talk to him later," Li said. "We can't have our son feeling sad."
"Just because he called you dad once, doesn't mean you get to brag about it," Mr. Ping scolded as they walked over to the kitchen.
Ladonna shook her head. Those two were too adorable. She walked over to Tai-lung and Tigress. "Sorry about all of that, he's just…I don't know. I sometimes don't think he's even from this world. He's too sweet, but it's probably because he's seen so much. I hope this didn't ruin your experience here."
"None at all," Tai-lung assured. "We know you're all a family here."
"He got death threats," Tigress explained.
"Thank you, Tigress," he seethed as Ladonna giggled.
"You guys just take your seats, Po will be out with your orders." She gave Tai-lung a peck on the nose. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go get the Su family their drinks."
Tai-lung watched as she entered the kitchen before he sat down, only to meet the smirk of his dear sister. "I'm happy for you," she said, drinking her lemonade.
Well, that was a first. "When are you gonna get yourself a man."
She let out a bitter laugh. "I'm already a leftover woman. There's no point. I'll just be happy on my own. Don't you worry." She had many men after her, but she didn't want them. She wasn't sure if they were genuine or not. Also, most were in their twenties. She wanted someone her age, but most men her age were either married or creeps. She just wanted someone nice. Someone genuine. Someone who would be able to put up with her craziness. She would probably never find him. If she couldn't find him ten years ago, she won't be able to find him now.
"Order up," said a voice. The panda placed the plates on the table as fast as he could before walking away as fast as he could.
Tigress watched him curiously as Tai-lung dug in like the animal he was. When he finally entered the kitchen and out of sight, she had no clue what to make of the panda. She started eating her soup. "Dammit," she muttered. It wasn't spicy enough. "I forgot to order-" She stopped when she noticed a small cup on the side of her bowl. The extra sauce on the side.
"You what," Tai-lung asked, mouth full.
"Nothing," she answered, pouring the extra sauce in her bowl. She looked over at the double doors that lead to the kitchen. Just who was that panda?