Yes, yes, i have quite a soft spot for the villain. I pity him for reasons i don't quite know myself. In the movie, you could tell that Shifu's words had touched him slightly, he just fought his feelings. So, here's somthing for Tai Lung.

Thunk.

The hooded figure sitting at the table in the dimly lit restaurant jumped slightly as his order was placed in front of him by a burly pig with an apron tied around it's waist.

"Enjoy." the pig said.

The figure, not turning to face the waiter, just grunted in response, pulling the wooden bowl filled with hot soup closer to him.

Slightly taken aback by the customer's...ungrateful response, he simply just nodded and walked away. He muttered to himself quietly, not wanting the customer to hear, "Yeesh. What's the world done to you, buddy."

Unfortunately, his remark had been heard, but the disguised figure just sent him a sideways glance, revealing a pair of yellow eyes. Tai Lung then pulled the cloak further over his head and whispered in response, "Nothing he hasn't deserved." He plucked the bowl of soup from the table with one paw and downed it in two gulps.

He placed the empty bowl on the table and glanced at his opposite arm, which was bandaged and drove him crazy with tiny stabs of pain. He sighed deeply and rested his head on the table, silently waiting for the waiter to come by again so he could ask for a refill.

Then, without warning, another bowl was slid across the table, hitting his arm lightly and coming to a halt. He looked up quickly to see a different waiter, well, waitress, staring down at him. She offered a smile. "On the house." she purred.

He gave her a suspicious look. "What's the catch, might i ask?" he basically spat out the words as if they were tainted.

Her smile remained. "No, catch, kind sir. You just look like you could've used another bowl, that's all." the slender snow leopard flicked her tail cattily behind her.

Tai Lung rolled his eyes and grunted a 'thank you'. Then, to his surprise, and annoyance, she sat down at the table and tried to begin a conversation. "So, what's a fine, young gentleman, such as yourself, doing in a low-class noodle shop such as this, might i ask?"

"My business is my own, and not to seem rude, but if you have any respect for that, you'll leave me be. Low-class would be my current status at the moment, i can tell you that if it will satisfy your lust for gossip." he growled slightly as these last words left his mouth.

"Oh, so you don't feel like talking." she said.

He sighed in frustration, "That would be correct."

"Oh, okay," she said innocently, "So, you don't feel like talking to me?"

Now he was beginning to get irritated. He raised his hackles briefly, though she couldn't really tell while he had his cloak on, and clenched his teeth. "Again, my lady, you are correct. Now, would you please go away?"

The waitress rolled her eyes and surrendered. "Alright." she stood up. "I'll leave you alone."

Tai Lung sighed deeply and was about to finish the soup she had given him when she began to sing a painfully familiar tune. Surprised, he looked up and watched her walk away.

"If i had words to make a day for you," she continued to sing softly as she began cleaning the second table after Tai Lung's. "I'd sing you a morning, golden and true."

Tai Lung stared at her with wide eyes. He knew this song, but had not heard it in many years.

"I would make this day last for all times, sleep through the night, deep in--"

"That song." Tai Lung murmered. The waitress looked up, confused, "What?"

Quickly, the snow leopard rose to his feet and walked up to her. She was surprised when he grabbed her shoulders and demanded, "Where did you learn that?" The weird thing was, he didn't seem angry or upset, just surprised. "Tell me. Tell me!" he pleaded, shaking her slightly.

She couldn't help but feel a bit frightened over his outburst, but she managed to answer his question. "I-i-i learned it when i was a little girl. I-it's my favorite song."

Quickly, he whipped off his hood and stared into her ice blue eyes, "My face. Do you know my face? Does it remind you of anyone you used to know?" he asked desperately.

"What? Sir, please, you're scaring me--"

"Answer me. Please. Do you know me?"

She quickly scanned over him with her eyes, trying to find anything that might calm him down. She found nothing at first. "Sir, i'm sorry, b-but i don't think..." she stopped short as her eyes met his yellow ones.

For a moment, she flashed back to when she was merely a cub as she danced in a golden field with her best friend. The other leopard cub pounced on her playfully and laughed, "Come on, Scythe! Let's go!"

Snapping back to reality, she stared right back at him. "Tai Lung." she breathed quietly.