Well, Look Who Literally Blew In... No, Not Mary Poppins
♪I've *got to know*- *I've GOT TO KNOW*,
What is this place that I have found??!
*WHAT- is- this*...??!?♪
"What's This??", Danny Elfman, Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
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%Three years later...%
Inside of the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology was *an INFERNO*. Tadashi could hardly breathe- not that he much cared. Professor Callaghan was *still inside*. SOMEONE had to help-!
"*Professor Callaghan*??!" he called out desperately, coughing and hacking from the smoke and horrible chemical stew brewing in the air as a result of everyone else's technical marvels made for the SFIT Expo- now just charred destroyed pieces of metal, plastic, glass, and other materials. It was such a shame- Hiro, especially, was going to be dev-
THERE!! *Right there*! Through the dark smoke and haze of heat, Tadashi saw the middle-aged robotics professor. -But before Tadashi could reach him, two things stopped him short and made him freeze.
One- a sharp ominous '*CRACK*' just above his head or back. Two- *Professor Callaghan using Hiro's neuro-transmitter and micro-bots in order to escape the fire*.
And just as chillingly as Tadashi KNEW that he was going to *DIE* either from the beam falling onto his head and the ensuing explosion or via the beam pinning and trapping him via his legs or back and *THEN the explosion*, he *knew EXACTLY WHAT* Callaghan was going to use Hiro's invention for. He could *just hear* what would happen in the future- between Hiro and Callaghan, between Callaghan and Krei...
#"*Tadashi*- *you just let him DIE*! *He went in there TO SAVE YOU*-!!"
"*That was his mistake*..."
"What are you doing??!!"
"You took *EVERYTHING* from me when you sent Abigail into that machine. Now I'm going to take everything *from YOU*. You're going to watch *everything you built* DISAPPEAR. -And then *it's YOUR TURN*..."#
But just as Tadashi was heartbrokenly surrendering to the inevitable while watching the teacher who was like a father-figure to him unknowingly betray one of his best students- just as something went '*BOOM*!!!!' ...another softer more warm-than-*HOT* sunset-orange light surrounded Tadashi's still-free body, transporting him out of the burning building and- well, due to the sudden explosion, *NOT beside his fallen beloved little brother*. But at least, Peri the Orange Faerie reasoned with himself, he was still safe and sound. And he would be away from a vengeful not-caring Professor Robert Callaghan, as well...
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
The softer blast and the shock still knocked Tadashi out, though. So he was unconscious for a good while- an hour or so...
"Hey, Hans- 'Nocchi! Gender-flipped Sleepin' Beauty's wakin' up- 'bout time, too!"
"Oh, *thank goodness*! We were getting worried- Fru Tomally and Herre Johann, too."
"Sig-'Signore'?? Um, uh- c-can you hear us?"
Tadashi groaned and shifted, rubbing at his eyes. Why the heck did he think he was hearing two familiar-ish voices from a mov-??
Then his almond-shaped chocolate-brown optics flew wide open when he realized something else. *He wasn't dead*- wasn't even HURT!!! Not a scratch, scrape, mild or serious burn, cut, or even simply a bruise or two!! His body *WASN'T aching*- head, torso, arms, legs! His legs and back were *still WHOLE*...
And he was lying down on a bed ...but it wasn't a *HOSPITAL bed* by any means, nor his own in Aunt Cass's house right above the Lucky Cat Cafe that he shared with his 'otuoto' (little brother) Hiro. Or one of the guest bedrooms of his friends Fred, Honey-Lemon, Wasabi, or Go-Go...
Instead, from what he could see, the strange place he'd just woken up well, alive, and whole in had a lot of- *Norwegian* touches. Not unusual or unheard of- decorate how you like, and all that! It was just -*WEIRD*, especially when he'd expected to be no longer in the world of the living.
"...Toto, something tells me we're *NOT* in *CARTOON territory* anymore," he mumbled to himself.
"-*Eh*??? I thought it was 'Toto, I've a feeling we're *not in KANSAS* anymore*."
"He's quotin' Mr. Alf from 'Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue', 'Bastian- not Ms. Dorothy Gale from th' 1939 MGM's 'The Wizard of Oz'."
"...*Ohhhhh*. Okay- I'll take yer word for it, 'Nocchi-lad. Yer a wee bit more knowledgeable aboot hidden underrated gems than m'self."
WAIT. *Wait a minute*. '*NOCCHI*'???! As in ...'Pinocchio'???
Heart pounding fast and hard in his chest, Tadashi chanced a glance at the end of his bed- and did his very best to not let his startled strangled gasp turn into a shocked slightly frightened scream. For THERE, *right there*, for *REAL* (excuse the pun) ...was 'Little Woodenhead' himself, but freckled like in the video game 'Lies of P', with much longer hair, and his 'Trademark' old-fashioned Italian clothes exchanged for slightly more modern ones; not to mention *flesh-blood-and-bone* (though he still had the same nose)!!!
There was a small BLUE *mustached* anthropomorphic cricket sitting on his shoulder, Figaro (of course no longer a tiny kitten, but now a handsome sleek longish-furred prince of a cat) lying down at the foot of Tadashi's bed -and somebody who was neither Geppetto, a turned-back-to-human!older Lampwick, or the Blue(Haired) Faerie standing by Pinocchio's side.
That last person was either around Tadashi's age of nineteen or older, -and the other robotics genius Hamada brother couldn't help but notice with a flustered blush that he was *VERY handsome*, like a prince from a fairy-tale, a Disney Prince (or Hero), or Dimitri from Don Bluth's 'Anastasia'. Tall, slim yet well-built under simple well-made clothes and an apron, a lean face, straight thick hair as dark red as Lily Evans-Potter's, matching sideburns, large inquisitive intelligent hazel-green eyes... A handsome face and 'dreamy' eyes that were also genuinely warm, kind, and concerned.
*Oh, WOW*! And his VOICE matched his looks, too.
"Are you alright, Her- ah, young sir??" the princely elder male queried in a melodic tenor. "You- You suddenly came out of NOWHERE in a flash of sparkling orange light, and you were unconscious to boot even though you didn't appear to be hurt. Are- *ARE you hurt*, at all? Dizzy? Feeling sick?"
And they said 'Chivalry is *DEAD*'... Edward Cullen had *NOTHING WHATSOEVER* on this guy anymore than Charming from 'Shrek 2' or 'The Vampire Chronicles' Lestat!
"H-Hey... No- no, I-I'm alright," Tadashi stammered, trying hard not to blush further. "I'm- I'm okay!"
"Are you sure?"
Well, he had Tadashi there. "...*Not hurt* by any means, at least. Just- Just CONFUSED AS ALL GET-OUT, pretty much."
"More than understandable," chirruped the little guy who was more than likely *NOT Jiminy Cricket* but still in his position, "given how ye got here an' jus' woke up. -An' whom ye just met as well, I think."
"Were you in *BIG trouble*, and then somehow came here??" asked Mr. *Helloooo, NURSE* in concern. (Tadashi was as much a *NERD* as Fred and the others, okay?! And so were Hiro and Aunt Cass.)
Tadashi shuddered and swallowed, blinking hard against the sharp smarting damp HOT saltiness building up in his eyes as he looked down at his lap, not able to meet any of his semi-saviors' eyes. "There- There was a fire at my school -the school that my little brother Hiro had just been accepted into- and- and one of the other students that just got out in time told me that P-Professor Callaghan was *still in there*. I- I went in to save him- H-Hiro almost stopped me; should- should've JUST LET HIM! But- But- *stubborn stupid FOOLISH KNUCKLE-HEADED me* s-said to him, 'Callaghan's in there! *Someone has to help*!', and- and ran inside...
"Could- Could *hardly BREATHE* in there- could hardly SEE- But I l-looked for him so- so we could both get out of the burning building. S-Saw him, eventually, but- but- H-He didn't see m-me while- while u-*using my 'otuoto's' microbot invention and neuro-cranial transmitter- HIS INVENTION* to- to escape the fire! Not- Not just that! He's gonna- He's gonna use it to DESTROY the other guy's company and k-ki-*KILL him* in r-revenge for his daughter d-dying during- during the test drive of a p-portal; and- and if H-Hi-HIRO s-somehow finds out about it, he'll- he'll *hurt my 'otuoto'* and o-our friends...!
"At- At the same time, I- I also h-heard a beam 'CRACK' above me and f-felt an explosion coming. I- I knew I was going to d-d-die, o-one way or another ...or- or so I thought, I- I guess. M-Maybe my own- my own powers acted to save me, but it didn't f-feel like it... Wh-Whichever the case, I- I kind of was knocked out, got blown away MAGICALLY, and- and l-landed here. Um, e-end of story."
There was silence for a beat or two as his unexpected audience processed his almost-tragic story. Then Pinocchio rubbed his bottom lip between his teeth and either clutched at or rubbed his arm while slightly rocking back-and-forth on his heels as he uttered, "Sig-'Signore', um... I think- I think it was either m-my Zia Chiara who s-saved you or- or one 'f her fellow W-Wishin' Faeries. I don't- I don't know how or why you ended up HERE instead of b-back b'side your brother, o-or if it was intentional or not."
*A Faerie* had been the one to save him??? Well, that explained the differently-feeling magic. Still- "Ah, pardon me- 'zia'??"
"That's 'aunt' in Italian," Pinocchio's non-cricket guardian chimed in to explain. "'Zia Chiara' is th' one also mostly known as 'the Blue Fairy', or 'the Fairy with Turquoise Hair'. A verra nice lady, she an' her mentor-turned-wife Agata both. Never really had aunts or uncles before m'self, but *they're AMAZING*."
All Tadashi could think of to say to that was a slightly weak, "...I thought that she was *Pinocchio's MOTHER*, of a sort."
Pinocchio sharply shook his head and blinked back hurt tears of his own even though a sweet genuine smile danced over his lips. "U- Uh-uh, s-'signor'! Her- H-Her young-*younger sister* is my m-m-ma-'madre'. The- The lady whom F-Fath- F-Father was o-once in l-love with..."
Tadashi felt like he'd been slapped or had the wind knocked out of him. Either she had abandoned him and Geppetto, -or also somehow betrayed him, *and BADLY*. Or BOTH. And Pinocchio was stuttering pretty badly over his said-to-be sole parent's moniker; was he-??
"What- What happened with your father?" Tadashi tried to ask as kindly and gently as possible.
There was a sudden flash of 'Lies of P' and Guillermo del Toro's stop-motion adaptation of 'Pinocchio' through Tadashi's brain plus snatches of songs from 'Frankenstein: A New Musical' and flashes of the 1994 film adaptation of Mary Shelley's most famous work ...and he sickeningly KNEW along with 'Little Woodenhead's' hurt darkened tear-filled trembling eyes and the *CRUSHED* look on his doll-face from underneath a flop of raven bangs. Drunk or no, a grieving Geppetto had carved Pinocchio in hopes of resurrecting and bringing back his long-lost son Carlo -but had ironically *LIED TO Pinocchio* from the very beginning about his origins when the little *CREATION boy* first Awoke confused and a little scared. He'd been lost in the land of 'De Nile' for at least a month, but then had finally sadly drifted to shore and almost *KILLED* that sweet innocent puppet-child with a sunshine smile and big eyes as bright and blue as stars!! When Pinocchio had used his own Faerie magic to protect himself, the truth had finally come out ...on *BOTH sides*, given that his semi-Heartless mother had then entered the picture.
Sebastian solemnly continued the story. "'Nocchi chewed them both out *but GOOD* before then runnin' away in tears an' divin' into th' sea- only thing of his he took with him while swimmin' away from Italy was 'piccolo' ol' me. At one point, we bumped into Hans' ship that was headin' for Arendelle, Norway (which is where you are now, by the way), and he offered 'Nocchi some help which he nervously but gladly took after we made sure he could be trusted- and it turned out than HANS was runnin' away from an uncarin' abusive 'family', too! Cold neglectful father, twelve *NASTY older brothers* save for one, and a practically *ghostly porcelain doll* of a mama; 'strong preyin' upon th' weak', '*love is WEAKNESS*', and whathaveyou. Hans was the youngest of th' clan, an' it seemed like he was gonna be goin' down just as bad a path...
"But then, like you, he was helped by a faerie- Agata the Violet Faerie, Lady Chiara's mentor-turned beloved and wife. She cast a Forgettin' Spell over the castle an' kingdom that traveled elsewhere an' would make people forget that there are/were *THIRTEEN princes o' the Southern Isles* instead of just twelve, an' he made a break for it himself with his horse Sitron and kitten Figaro. In sharin' tragic backstories, 'Nocchi an' Hans hit it off, an' they d'cided t' become one another's family as well as friends, since 'Nocchi needed someone else t' look after an' take care o' him b'sides m'self, and Lady Chiara couldn't do so due t' Faerie Rules concernin' family unless Pinocchio was a proper orphan...
"They docked in Arendelle- made a nice little home, here. Lived with Hans' new employers for a while until he earned enough from Tomally's Baked Goods t' buy them a house in th' village that would also have a stable for Sitron an' was near enough Pinocchio's school... an' tha's pretty much it. Life's been pretty quiet for th' past three years, until ye literally flashed into our existence."
So... One of the Top Five/Ten/Eleven (Non)Disney Dads Geppetto was *so NOT* after all, apparently. Not outside of *FICTION-fiction*, anyway. And BETRAYED by someone whom you loved and trusted??? Ohhhh, Tadashi could relate to that *ALL TOO well* by now...!!
His MOTHER had been a real piece of work herself, only gaining back a change of heart (ha) upon realizing that *HERS' and Geppetto's son* was a Creation, and therefore not subject to a Wishing Faerie's Rules- especially of *not giving actual life to an inanimate object*.
*No wonder* Pinocchio had screamed, shouted, and sobbed at them, run away, and then almost immediately gave his broken heart to the first actual person he'd met who also was escaping a cold hurtful household- he'd been STARVED for affection, for *LOVE* ...for someone to care for, love, and look after him. *To be HIS FAMILY*. And if *Sebastian* had no objections whatsoever, -how could Tadashi possibly scold him for that??
Answer: *OF COURSE he couldn't*.
"...I'm- *I'm so sorry*. For- For *BOTH OF you*," Tadashi quavered, wiping at his own streaming eyes as he sat up a bit more. "That's just- That's just so sad! So- So AWFUL..."
'Hans' coughed and pressed his knuckles hard against his eyes while Pinocchio tried to dry his own tears (Sebastian muffling a sob into his own teeny-tiny hankie and blowing his little cricket nose). Then a sweet brave smile was sunbeamed Tadashi's way via Pinocchio and his adopted older brother.
"It's- It's not so bad now, 'signore'. H-Hans 'n I take r-*real good* care 'f each other, and- and we both take care 'f Figgy, Sitron, 'n kind of Sebastian. We're- we're all fed, watered, warm, clean, have electricity, m-money for the bills 'n groceries and some treats now 'n then, Hans has a good job he likes even though it took some time t' get used to it, I'm- I'm able t' go to school 'n have friends, a-and Z-Zia Chiara and Zia Agata visit us every once in a while, even! We don't- W-We don't hafta worry about th-THEM anymore, e-even if we st-still have n-nightmares about our f-former 'families'."
"All true, little woodenhead. All thankfully true," murmured Hans, wrapping a lean arm around Pinocchio's small thin shoulders and pulling him close. A soft contented sound between a quiet hum and a sigh escaped the Creation-child's sweet-lipped expressive mouth as he leaned against the elder male's side, letting his sweet bright blue orbs for eyes flutter shut for a minute or two.
Despite HANS' almost becoming a Villain, he and Hans clearly loved each other. As much as Hiro and Tadashi did, for all of Tadashi's frustration sometimes and Hiro's being snarky and sarcastic a lot of the time... As much as Geppetto *SHOULD have*, no matter what-!
Tadashi's heart twanged painfully yet sweet seeing the softness, tenderness, and warmth in those beautiful green eyes- how gently Hans rubbed a thumb over Pinocchio's shoulder and held him. For all of Hiro's- *ahem*, knuckleheadedness, the Hamada brothers were still fairly affectionate with each other; mainly stemming from having an aunt who was just as ready and eager to give one a big hug no matter how old you were. When -*NOT* 'if', WHEN- he saw Hiro again, he was going to give his 'otuoto' *the BIGGEST* hug- then Aunt Cass- then his friends; Mochi, too...
"Um... p-'perdon, signore'?"
Oh- Pinocchio's eyes had opened again, and they were questioningly looking right back at Tadashi.
"'Hai'? I mean, yes? What is it?" the elder half-Japanese male said kindly, trying for the same kind of smile.
It worked- Pinocchio shyly smiled back before an inquisitive, "Ah, um... I- I was just wonderin' what- what *YOUR name* is, 's all."
-*Whoops*! Right- *introductions ALL AROUND*. An again-red-cheeked Tadashi could practically feel Aunt Cass reprimandingly giving him a light whack upside the head, if not pulling his ear- hear Hiro snickering, giggling, guffawing, or near-cackling at his 'perfect' older brother forgetting *HIS manners*.
"O-*Oh*! Ah GEEZ... sorry about that! *Unbelievable*... M-My name is Tadashi- T-'Tadashi Daniel Takachiho-Hamada'. I'm- I'm not from around here, as you can probably tell; I- I was born and raised in San Fransokyo, Japan. Half- *HALF-Japanese*, though! Hiro's- Hiro's and my mom was Caucasian."
Tadashi half-expected Hans to bow, since he'd been born a prince and raised in a royal household. Instead, he smiled *NON-regally* and waved, mirroring his younger brother. "Hello, Tadashi- nice to meet you! We're *VERY sorry* for what happened and almost happened to you, but I promise, you're safe with us."
"H-Hello, Mr. Tadashi!"
"How-do, 'Signor' Tadashi Hamada? Don't worry, lad- yer in good hands here still wit' Hans, 'Nocchi, an' m'self. An' Arendelle itself is a pretty safe kingdom- LGBTQ+ friendly if not *MAGIC-friendly* given somethin' that happened t' the royal family a good while ago."
Note to self: *DO NOT mention Pinocchio's being a Creation carved a la 'The Modern Prometheus'*, being part-Faerie, or Tadashi's own witch powers; or Sebastian. "Um- h-hello, everyone," Tadashi waved back a little nervously still. "It's- It's nice to meet you all, too. Th-Thank you for being there for me when I woke up- and- and taking care of me while I was out cold, if- if you did that."
Now HANS was going a bit red in the face, and a bit of a *shy* look was creeping into his light verdant eyes. Did he kind of already *LIKE-like* Tadashi, as well?? -Yeah. He did.
*UNBELIEVABLE*!! *INCONCEIVABLE, even* (get the joke?)! An *actual prince* admired him, plain old goody-two-shoes smarty-pants loner Tadashi...!
"You're- You're welcome- *more than*! Um, well... it-it was mainly just laying you down and- and cooling and washing you off with a damp washcloth so you'd be more comfortable while you slept and when you woke up..."
A *VERY NICE Prince* sans quote-marks was crushing hard on him. He even SOUNDED LIKE one of the Rodgers and Hammerstein 'Cinderella' Princes-!
"St-Still, I- I really appreciate it- and- and Figaro's also keeping me company, apparently."
Aforementioned fluffy little rascal meowed in a friendly way and padded up to Tadashi, who held out his hand in order for Figaro to sniff them. Once he was deemed 'alright', Figaro licked Tadashi's fingers, then purred and butted the top of his head into the other's palm, more than eager and willing for a petting.
Tadashi laughed in a startled way- then it turned into a warm beaming smile as he gave into the furry prince's demands; earning even more of a purr and trill when he was scritched behind the ears and under his chin as well as having his head and back stroked.
"Figgy likes you!" Pinocchio chirruped with sparkling eyes.
"Most cats do, and not just this not-so-little-anymore guy or Aunt Cass's Japanese bobtail Mochi," Tadashi shrugged modestly. "I don't know why..."
"Maybe they just sense you're *a SWEETHEART* ...ohmygod, *did I say that OUT LOUD*??!! To *a guy I just met*?! -I did. *UGH*... Hans, *you IDIOT*!!"
Sebastian snickered good-naturedly- Figaro gave an embarrassed red-faced Hans a smug knowing Look. Pinocchio giggled, though tried to stifle it by clamping his hands over his mouth whereas Hiro would have been laughing out loud and instantly teasing *HIS brother* either under his breath or also aloud.
Tadashi blushed the shade of the Beast's Rose again, but couldn't help smiling in a pleased flattered manner. Heck- he could FEEL his eyes lighting up once his smile reached them! "I-It's okay, Pr- I mean, Hans! You didn't- You didn't, y' know- offend me, or anything. *Surprised and shocked* me a little, yeah ...but I'm not offended in the least, I promise! I- I think- ...Ithinkyou'reawfulniceyourself. G-*GORGEOUS*, t-to boot...!"
*WOW*- he had a *GREAT smile*. "H-Heh! Thank you, Tadashi. You're- You're not so bad-looking yourself. You've got- um, you've got really pretty eyes."
Back to looking down- but for a different reason than before, and with a cat in his lap this time. "M-*Me*?? *Compared to YOU*? You're- You're pretty much *PERFECT*- straight out of an Andrew Lang fairy-tale!" 'Compared to him, my face is a bit too long, jaw and nose a bit too large, my ears too big and prominent, and I'm gawky, lanky, and awkward even if I'm tall with a lean build and some muscle...'
"C'mon, Mr. Tadashi!" Pinocchio pouted a bit. "D-Don't think 'r talk about yourself like that! Hans likes ya for your *IN-side* beauty- your kindness, warmth, patience, smarts, and sense 'f humor, even!"
"'Don't worry. She likes your butt and fancy hair. I know. *I read her diary*'," Sebastian quipped encouragingly with twinkling eyes.
That made them all laugh, Figaro even joining in his squeaking mewling way. Once they'd gotten their breath back, Hans smiled over at Tadashi and held out his hand.
"So, um- deeper feelings or not, wh-what do you say, Tadashi Hamada? -Friends?"
Tadashi smiled back and took a hold of the once-prince's hand. (He had *really nice* ones, too- warm, long-fingered, somewhat callused... Why did Tadashi feel like Hans had used to wear gloves practically 24/7??) "Y-Yeah. *Friends*, former-Prince Hans."
OF COURSE, the mood was interrupted by the sudden long rumbling growl of Tadashi's stomach. He went red in the face again- *unbelievable*.
"Gee- you sound awful hungry, Mr. Tadashi," Pinocchio said in quiet concern, his big blue eyes worried.
"*Holy moly*, but that growl was long and skinny- spiralin' from yer belly to jus' b'low yer heart!" Sebastian exclaimed with a loud startled chirp. "How long's it been since ye last ate, laddie?"
Hans' spring-green eyes mirrored the very same question, and his hold on Tadashi's hand gentled a bit more.
Tadashi thought back, pushing past the recently acquired *PAINFUL memories*. "...Just before the Expo at SFIT, but not since then. Just a snack, to keep Hiro's energy up. We were going to celebrate at Aunt Cass's Lucky Cat Cafe, though- eat dinner there."
"-Okay. 'Nocchi, would you please get Figaro off of our guest's lap so he can sit and stand up, and then show him the way to the den? Thanks! Are you allergic to anything, Tadashi?"
Tadashi was very happy to be able to answer a sold '*NO*' to Hans' question. "Thankfully- it's Hiro who's got a mild allergy, poor little guy. Peanuts."
"That's a shame- peanut-butter cookies and Reeses are AMAZING. Not to mention the classic PB&J! Oh, well- Are tuna-fish sandwiches alright with you? With some mustard added?"
"*Sounds FANTASTIC*. I'd eat ANYTHING, at this point!"
"I'll bet... They usually make two to a can, since it's pretty overloaded for just one sandwich. Sounds like that's what you need. I just got off, and we were about to have dinner anyway. A movie or two, as well- would that be alright with you?"
"...I think I could probably use some distraction as well as nutrition. Yeah, sure- dinner during a movie sounds fine by me. Don't let me disturb your family time together, please!"
"Uh-uh, Mr. Tadashi! You're not; honest! You're *a GUEST*, and guests are ALWAYS welcome!"
"What my sweet little 'lillebror' said. What would you like to drink, Tadashi? Milk? Iced tea? Fruit juice? Dr. Pepper or ginger-ale?"
"I should probably go with milk, but ...why not? Dr. Pepper, please."
"Coming right up!"
Figaro pouted at being moved, but Tadashi sensed as he was helped to stand up from the bed that he'd hop back right on up the elder dark-haired male's lap or beside him once he sat down on a chair or the couch. -He was right.
"Wow! Figgy *REALLY likes you*."
"Well, he's not bad at all himself," Tadashi chuckled. "Besides, it feels really nice to have a warm cat purring in your lap or beside you..." ESPECIALLY after something like- well, he wasn't going to *go THERE* right now. "So, tuna sandwiches for dinner, huh? Any sides?"
"Um... J-Just sea-salt kettle chips, and mint-vanilla chocolate-chip bar cookies for dessert."
Tadashi sensed Pinocchio wouldn't really care for a stranger ruffling his hair, so he just smiled kindly over at the twelve-year-old boy. "Kidding- I was just kidding, 'Nocchi. Ah- is it alright if I call you that?"
Pinocchio nodded. "U- Uh-huh. That's- that's fine, Mr. Tadashi! S' what my friends 'n family call me anyway."
"Duly noted. -You, Hans, and Sebastian can call me 'Dashi', if you like."
"O-Okay, Mr. 'Dashi!"
*Too dang cute*. Even HIRO wouldn't be able to resist the power of Pinocchio's adorableness, and neither Honey-Lemon nor Fred *DEFINITELY* wouldn't be able to! -And Tadashi was fairly certain that 'Nocchi' was autistic, which would explain more than a few mannerisms Disney-wise or not.
"What are ya'll watching tonight?"
"L-'Lilo and Stitch', 'Zootopia', and 'Toy Story 2'."
"Oh? Good choices! Stitch might be a menace, but he sure is cute, isn't he?"
"He's lost and alone- Mr. Jumba didn't take good care of him like he was supposed to, and nobody else gave him a chance. That's why he doesn't know any better... but, 'si'. He's awful cute, and sweet once he gets better thanks to Lilo."
...If someone had told Tadashi Hamada that he would be having dinner with PINOCCHIO, his cricket conscience friend, adopted (*freakin' gorgeous*) elder adopted brother, and cat after being saved from a fire, then he would have laughed and called it a good joke. -Not so much right now.
%*SAVED*- *thank goodness*!!! Yes, Peri had messed up on the location outside the fire ...but it was still too dangerous for Tadashi to go back home while Callaghan was still running loose. For now, he still had to 'play dead' to his friends and family- even Hiro.
At least Hans, Pinocchio, and Sebastian would take good care of him with Figaro's and Sitron's help- *ESPECIALLY Hans*. Her match-maker brain was churning and whirring thoughtfully whenever she saw the two handsome young men interact with one another...%