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Peppino's never been one to really meddle with other's problems. He's tried helping people out before, but people always end up interpreting his intentions in a negative light. It took him a long time just to get the other Peppino to realize that he wasn't out to get him, he really did just want to help him make pizzas and save up money.
It goes back to his looks, the way he talks, the way he moves, being uncanny to others and making them freak out the moment he approaches. So, any attempts he's made to help someone out has only ended with an uncomfortable aura, no matter how small of an encounter it was. He remembers a long time ago, when he was still adjusting being apart of the other Peppino's pizzeria, helping out with the process whenever asked. Neither Gustavo nor Brick really talked to him, and he only learned their names in passing. So, the first time he actually interacted with either of them was when Brick got his head stuck in a container, and no one else was around to help.
He's still not sure what was going through Brick's head back then, but Peppino was bit the moment Brick's head was free, and it made him shriek out in pain and scare off the big rat. Apparently, he grabbed Brick by the scruff too hard and it hurt him, so he got told off by both Gustavo and his lookalike. He couldn't defend himself back then, no one understood him, so he was just stuck with the scolding, making him scared to even touch that rat again.
That was a long time ago. It's been a year now, the other Peppino can understand him now, and both Gustavo and Brick have grown more of a liking to him as well. The tension that existed back then had ebbed away, but it doesn't change how he feels about helping people. He still has that nagging feeling in the back of his head, the fear that he'll be yelled at, or hurt. So, he usually doesn't, he gets someone else.
But today was different. Gustavo stayed in sick today, so Brick stayed with him, which left only him and the other Peppino alone together at the pizzeria. The forecast said there was a high chance of rain today, so it looked gloomy outside, and they didn't get a lot of customers. Still, being at the pizzeria means an extra chance to make some money.
Since no one was around right now, Peppino decided to clean the front. Sure, they cleaned it that morning... but, he doesn't really have anything else to do, and he doesn't want to just stand around in the kitchen doing nothing all day. It was raining outside currently, it gave the pizzeria a bit of a calming feeling. Even if he doesn't like being out in the rain, Peppino can't help but admit the sound of rain pattering outside was relaxing.
As he mopped the floors, a sudden flash of light came from outside, and as he turned to look, a loud boom followed soon after. It made him jump and drop his mop, and he warbles nervously. Thunder and lightning... and it sounded so close, too. The power better not go out...
Peppino's thoughts where cut short when he hears a sound coming from the kitchen, like something clanking on the floor. Did his lookalike drop something too?
And then another flash of light.
And another boom.
And Peppino hears a scream from the kitchen.
He forgets what he was doing, he runs over to the kitchen without thinking. What happened? Did the other Peppino hurt himself?? Why did he scream??
When he reaches the kitchen, he spots his lookalike, huddled on the floor, back pressed against the corner of the counter and cowering. He was shaking and breathing hard, and it felt so... pathetic to watch.
"??deneppah tahW ?onippeP" Peppino calls out as he approaches, but he gets no answer. "?onippeP," He tries again, now sitting next to the other Peppino, but still, no response. It's like he's not even there, not being heard or noticed.
The rumbling from overhead only makes the situation worse, the lights going out, his lookalike mumbling incoherent Italian and on the verge of tears. Peppino doesn't know what's happening. What does he do? How the hell is he supposed to help out the other Peppino here??
Hesitantly, he gets closer, slowly inching closer until they were just nearly touching. Maybe... maybe he'll react to touch?
When he rests a hand on his shoulder, his lookalike jumps up and yelps, just now realizing Peppino was there. Except... his eyes looked.. glazed over, like he wasn't fully there, even if he very much so was. They stared at eachother for a moment, his lookalike mumbling more Italian at him, but it was so incoherent that he couldn't understand what was being said. Peppino just sits there with him, keeping a hand on his shoulder and trying his best to keep him in the moment.
Then another boom happens, and he shrieks again. He practically slams his body into Peppino, and it took him a moment to realize he was hugging him. Hugging him.. and crying.
Peppino slowly wraps his arms around the other Peppino, letting him sink as deep into his doughy body as he needed. Getting hugged felt like it made something click in his brain. The desire to protect, to keep the other Peppino safe from harm, to keep him relaxed and happy. Motherly instincts? He's not a mother. Maybe pack instincts?
Maybe.
They stayed stuck like that for a long time, the thunderstorm didn't seem to want to let up, and the lack of lights was making it so hard to see, but that didn't bother Peppino. He was always more used to the dark anyways. His main priority was keeping the other Peppino safe. Keep him happy. He even tried singing at some point, little tunes that he hears his lookalike singing sometimes, when he thinks no one is listening. It seems to help, even if his singing wasn't exactly the best, and the songs were distorted in his accent. So long as it works. That's the only thing that matters.
The other Peppino stops crying at some point, presumably too tired to cry any longer, just giving weak, dry sobs. He's fine with that. It at least shows that he might be getting somewhere.
Finally, finally, the thunder lets up long enough for his lookalike to finally calm down and come to his senses. It takes him a minute to realize just what position the both of them are in, and he looks up at Peppino, wide eyed and a little embarrassed. He pulls away without much effort.
They just stare at eachother, Peppino trying to figure out if he was okay now, and the other Peppino trying to figure out why the fuck they were huddling up together. The other Peppino eventually looks away, trying to piece together what happened. The lights are out... it's raining outside... they're.. on the floor?
He looks back up, ".. What- uh.. what happened..?"
".nwod mlac uoy pleh ot gniyrt saw I .roolf eht no pu delruc uoy dnuof I dna ,rednuht fo tol a saw erehT"
"Oh..." The other Peppino says, suddenly seeming so embarrassed and mildly ashamed. Before he can dwell on it further, he gets up off the floor, still trembling some. "We.. we should get out of here.. I ah- I don't want to get stuck in here during the night.."
Peppino gets up too, helping his Lookalike get out of the kitchen, not because he needed it, but because Peppino still felt the need to keep him safe. He doesn't want his legs to give out and his lookalike falling face first.
It was brighter in the front, and that's when Peppino realizes that he didn't even pay attention to if anyone came by. Probably not. It doesn't matter. The other Peppino was a bigger priority. Grabbing the emergency umbrella, he holds it up for the other Peppino as they lock up for the day and leave.
He doesn't care if he gets a little wet from the rain. So long as his lookalike was safe the entire way home, then that's all that mattered.
... Maybe he can help with things. Sometimes.