Chapter Text
~"*GET OUT*!!! You disgusting little *still-literal faggot*!! You're NOT a *REAL boy* ...*you're not my son*! Carlo, *for SHAME* on you!! God rest her sweet pious soul, if *your mother Constanza* were here today, and knew what I now know, she'd *die AGAIN* of shame plus *MORTIFICATION*...!"
"I'm NOT *CARLO*, Fath-!"
"*Don't you DARE* call *me* any form of 'father'; NEVER AGAIN!! -If I'd had any sort of inkling that you were going to turn out *THIS way*, then I *NEVER* would have carved you, drunk and lonely or no! *I should have just let Stromboli keep you for his toy-boy and singing dancing stringless puppet*..."~
The shattered pieces of Pinocchio's heart dug further into his insides, and the gaping bleeding ragged hole torn into his soul throbbed as he sobbed and roughly wiped at his eyes. WHY, *why*, *WHY* *couldn't he FORGET*- even if just for a little while???! Fa- *HIS cruel nasty words* kept ringing and echoing over and over in his ears and head, making the counter-tenor teen curl in further on himself while he aimlessly walked through the woods of his new home- Forks, Washington, the United States of America. Under a near-constant cover of clouds and rain with rare sunny days, GREEN *as GREEN* like the famed fairytale Black Forest of Germany; a coven of 'vegetarian' vampires lived here (or, had used to; they'd moved for some unknown reason months before 'Nocchi's and his new family's arrival), and so did a shifter pack of 'werewolves'...
Rather fitting, seeing as Papa Rumple was a wizard, Mama Belle a witch-in-training, and both 'Nocchi and Jiminy were Fae-touched...
Thanks to a spell from Papa, his thick raven-black hair was now much longer, ending at the small of his back in kitten-soft locks a blend between straight and wavy and mirroring the swirl of dark bangs that framed his doll-like face. His clothes were more modern, yet still reflected his 'puppet' garments, and were still colorful- bright red semi-shorts sans suspenders, a lower white-embroidered collar on the pale yellow one-piece shirt under a dark silver-edged vest, the blue bowtie unknotted and turned into a necklace with the addition of a blue jeweled butterfly pendant, white gloves now fingerless, and the 'Trademark' Tyrolean cap replaced by a gold-braided and blue-ribboned headband with a red feather dangling down one side. He had plans eventually to emboss his vest with some colorful stitching a la Mirabel Madrigal from 'Encanto', -but just then, he didn't really feel in the mood to do so.
At least now, he could indulge in his non-reluctantly liking to help cook/bake, read what he liked without having to hide it, and sing and dance what he pleased if he felt like it; same with his liking to sew. -*WHY* couldn't he have had the *BEST of* two worlds??! WHY couldn't- *he* have at least *TRIED TO accept Pinocchio* as he'd been 'born', instead of screaming at him and throwing him out of the house-!??
-He knew the answer. *Carlo* -dear beloved dead Carlo- had been *PERFECT*, and that included STRAIGHT...
Another ragged sob tore itself from his lungs, and he buried his face in his hands- his face that the Blue Fairy had made seem 'normal' when he became a Real Boy, a Glamour that was removed the moment that Pinocchio came out. It had been a test of sorts, and Geppetto had *FAILED*; 'You will *ALWAYS* be *MY Real Boy*' meant NOTHING, apparently, when said Real Boy was queer in both personality and romantic inclinations...
Tears GUSHED down Pinocchio's formerly-rosy lightly-freckled cheeks, and he just let them.
Jacob Black STARED- kept staring, then *pinched himself* *HARD*. *OUCH*!!! Dreaming, he *was NOT*- a longer-haired and more modernly-dressed *PINOCCHIO* -a fictional animated Disney character and famous literary hero- was standing right before him forlornly a little aways from where the Quilete teen was, his face buried in his small fingerlessly-gloved hands and his thin shoulders QUAKING as muffled *sobs* just faintly reached Jacob's ears!
Concern gnawed at the older boy's warm heart, even more so than when Bella had just stopped by looking like HELL due to her vampire boyfriend dumping her just the day after her birthday. What was wrong??? Why was the former live stringless marionette *crying* like his heart *AND* SOUL were not just broken, *but SHATTERED*??! -Had something happened to his beloved father Geppetto? Was he sick- dying ...*dead*??
Billy Black's jaw dropped and eyes popped too, from where he was looking out the window while sitting in his wheelchair and watching the light drizzle of rain as well as seeing Bella off. He didn't have to look over at his son and give him a look or nod, though; Jacob was already dashing over to see what he could possibly do or say to *SOMEWHAT help*, his own long satiny black hair flying out behind him like a jet flag.
Just as Jake reached Pinocchio's side, he heard him strangely whimper in his still sweet piping treble-voice before letting loose another couple of soft sobs, "'*My shadow, what's the matter with you*??'"
Well, that gave him an opening, at least. Softly, kindly, trying his best not to spook or scare the younger teen, Jacob quoted back, "'Boy, -why are you crying...?'"
Pinocchio jumped and gasped, jerking his face up out of his hands and drawing in his arms close to his chest while stepping back a bit, his swollen puffy big blue eyes the color and clarity of the daytime sky's reflection on the ocean framed by long inky tassels of lashes meeting with and locking onto Jake's deep-set very dark brown ones. He trembled a little, which was understandable- he'd been startled, and Jacob Black WAS a stranger...
Rather than 'normal', his flipping' CUTE and *adorable* pretty face was as doll-like as when he'd been a puppet-child, his nose still an elongated-button shape (which gave Jake a thrill). His soft soft-looking skin was clear, smooth, and pale same as Bella's complexion, but lightly dusted with freckles like constellations of stars in the night sky; hmm, now THAT was *new*! (-He rather liked it, though.) And instead of pleasinglyadorablycharmingly pinkish-red like rose petals, his cheeks were flushed-yet-ashy from crying so hard and long.
He was slenderly-thin and small-framed for his age- Jake, at 6'5, nearly TOWERED over him. He hoped that Pinocchio could see the genuine kindness in his eyes and feel the warmth from his smile, and so not be (further) frightened by the older boy...
He must have, because his pale salt-swollen lips slowly blossomed into a trembling sweet smile that *just* reached his eyes and caused them to faintly sparkle like stars seen through a thin veil of mist or fog, making Jake's breath catch in his chest. "H-Hello," he quavered.
"-Hello."
"Wh-What's your n-name, sig-'signor'?"
*Holy crow*, but he was *so POLITE*! Jake grinned (though made sure to still keep the expression semi-soft) and held out his hand. "Name's 'Jacob William Black'. What's yours', doll?? I mean, I can probably take a wild guess or already know, but decorum implies I *at LEAST* ASK."
A smaller gloved snow-pale 'faerie/angel-kissed' previously wooden hand slid into the other teen's warm larger long-fingered coppery 'paw' before gently shaking it. "I'm- I'm ...m-my name is 'Pinocchio'. P-'Pinocchio Edward Benjamin Toma-' N-No ...no. I- I keep forgettin'; 's '*Pinocchio Edward Benjamin CRICKET-GOLD*', now. Not- Not T-Tom-'Tommaso'; not- not anymore..."
Jake's heart lurched. *By the Creator*, but he sounded and looked *SO* SAD as he uttered that last!! Just as *BROKEN* as Bella- *MORE SO THAN her*, even! He heard the middle moniker 'Edward', but it didn't make him want to growl or snarl or sneer; it fit young 'Scissorhands' *PERFECTLY*, actually.
"Nice t' meetcha, 'Nocchi! -You don't mind if I call you that, do ya? Your name's nice and all; it's just *long*! N-No offense..."
Pinocchio shook his head with another 'Friendly Ghost' of a smile. "N-None taken, M-Mr. Jacob Black. I- I know 's a long one... P-'Pinoke(s)' is *Jiminy's alone*, anyway, like 'Slats' was Lampwick's. What- What friends I've got call me 'Nocchi', anyhow, so- so you can go right ahead."
"Noted. -You can call me 'Jake' now and then, if you like! ...Whatcha doin' way out here?? You've gotta be a ways from home."
'Nocchi's' lips trembled again as he swallowed hard and blinked, wiping at his still-damp eyes. "What- What am I doin' HERE *in FORKS* rather than back in Italy, y' mean?" he mumbled miserably.
"Well ...yeah," Jake admitted with a sheepish shrug. "Th-That, too."
"Are- Are you ph-pho-phobic, at all??"
Jacob flinched at that apprehensive frightened question, but he wasn't offended. 'Nocchi wouldn't have asked such a thing if he hadn't had a LEGIT *reason* to do so, after all! He started to get a *BAD* feeling in the pit of his stomach; was this why the pretty blue-eyed boy was not just crying, but *weeping* like he had been, and likely *for DAYS*??
Was this why he was wandering the copious greenery of Forks, and not walking the sunny streets of Italy...?
Still, he readily assured his sweet new friend, "*Not in the least*, I promise! I think I'm probably pansexual/romantic, myself."
Jake's heart fell clear through to the soles of his sneakers after *SHATTERING* as a result of what he next heard. "I'm- I'm gay. F-Fath- M-Mis-Mister Ge-Geppetto didn't- didn't like that."
"-He kicked you out?!"
"Called- C-Called m-me a li-'literal faggot' and- and said th-that Str-Stromboli should've k-*kept me* for his- his 'toy-boy'..."
-*Damn it*!!! Possible *HORRIBLE implied child abuse* CONFIRMED; *THAT* was why 'Nocchi had lied to the Blue Fairy and been so hesitant! And one of the Top Disney Dads Geppetto was after all *NOT*-!!
"Was- Was your conscience/pseudo-godfather mad or disgusted, too? ...Was 'Miss Faerie' either one?"
"Th-*Thank God*, *NO*, for all his s'possin' t' keep me on the 'Straight and Narrow Path'!" Pinocchio sniffled, pulling an actual cloth handkerchief out of his green hoodie pocket and blowing his nose. "He's- He bi himself- just- just married his two sweethearts Rumplestiltskin Gold and- and Belle French. He- He took me in right away; oh, he was *FURIOUS* with- h-HIM...!
"Sh-She- She hasn't come down and l-lam-*LAMBASTED* me for- for not fallin' for a *FE-male*, so ...s-so I guess that she doesn't mind."
Jake's eyes *stung*, but he tried not to show it while attempting to now lightly chat. (At least 'Signora Wings' hadn't assisted in breaking his sweet new friend's spirit into miniscule bits and pieces even if she hadn't swooped down and wreaked fiery vengeance on a certain woodcarver ...small favors, he supposed.) "H-How old are ya, 'Nocchi?"
"Just- Just turned thirteen last November. Y-You?"
"I'm sixteen. -November, huh? What's your birth date?"
"The ninth."
"January fourteenth, for me."
"The- The 'piacovole' brown-haired and brown-eyed girl with awful pale skin that- that I saw leavin' earlier when- when I was walkin' by your house... I-Is she your girlfriend?"
"Who- *Bella*?? No, no; she's pretty, smart, and all, but I'm just the younger brother of my older sisters who used to play with her until she fully lived with her mom." (He decided not to mention just then that enough temper tantrums had put a stop to any more fishing trips by the time Bella was eleven, from what he got from hearsay.)
"Does- Does she come by t' visit a lot?"
"Not usually, ...but she just brought me a couple of motorcycles to fix up, and I think that she wants to hang around while I do that. *The more*, *the MERRIER*; wanna join in??"
"I- I kinda have a feelin' that Bella wouldn't want t' see me- sp- 'specially not around you. Could- Could I come over whenever she's not there, though, please?"
"*HECK, yeah*! I- I wanna see you again, 'Nocchi. You're- You're really sweet, and not in a cloying way; and you've been through *HELL* recently..."
THAT was for sure. But now, his cold dark bell-tower was being warmed and illuminated by Heaven's Light again as a russet-skinned, black-haired, and dark-eyed tall lanky muscled angel smiled brightly at him. "I- I'd like t' see you again too, J-Jake. Y-You're awful nice, and- and you seem like you can be funny, too!"
Jake's warm brown cheeks flushed wine-red. "H-Heh! You could say that, I guess." Bella had refused to stay for dinner, but maybe...?? He didn't want to say 'Goodbye' just yet. "Would- Would you like to stay for dinner, 'Nocchi?"
The younger boy didn't want to say 'Bye' just yet, either. He wanted to bask and soak in that wonderful warmth for a little longer; as long as he could... "Just- Just lemme call Papi, Papa, Mama, 'n Bae so I can let them know where I am even though I told them I was goin' for a walk in the woods, and- and ask permission."
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Nobody had really been unkind to Pinocchio when he'd moved to Forks and been enrolled in school there, but Jiminy was still *ECSTATIC* that his adopted son had made a new friend, and readily agreed alongside Belle and Rumple that, YES, *of course* he could stay for dinner at Jacob's house, and visit for a bit more! Just please come home at a decent time, 'si'/aye/'oui'?
Jake's best friends Quil and Embry joined the evening meal, too. They *ADORED* 'Nocchi from the get-go, and like Jake did their best to make him laugh and smile all through plates of fried chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, and lightly-sweetened tea with ice-cream-topped brownies for dessert (homemade, of course). Billy liked him, too, watching him in concern with a parent's eyes (Geppetto, you are not just *an IDIOT*, but a *JACKASS*!!!) same with his wife Emily- watched the former puppet-boy and their Jake 'bounce around' each other with a hint of *something MORE* possibly coming later...
It didn't keep away 'Nocchi's own *hauntingly* *LONELY* dreams that caused him to scream in his sleep and wake up shuddering and sobbing with tears pouring down his face as Jiminy soothingly shushed him, held him close while stroking his mussed hair, and rocked him tenderly ...but having Jake as a friend at least helped. Had Lampwick lived, this is probably what it would have been like; had he not been SHOT by the evil Coachman for kicking a pool table on his face and letting 'Slats' and his conscience escape the horrors of Pleasure Island... He was like a male Fabiana, even; but of Native-American lineage rather than Italian-Romani.