The Best of Friends
A/N: Hey everyone, Tif S. here. I got permission from another author on this site, Frosted-Kisses725 to do one of her prompts. Disney's The Fox and the Hound with Glee characters.
Summary: Finn and Puck Friendship: After Puck's Mom was killed in a drive-by shooting, he is staying with his grandma in Lima. While playing out in the woods, Puck meets another little boy Finn who's training to be a hunter, but Finn's Dad doesn't approve of their friendship. Can it last? Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, Ryan Murphy does. I do not own The Fox and the Hound, Disney does. I do not own the prompt I based this off of. Frosted-Kisses725 does. I do own my take on the prompt, but I'm getting advice and help from Frosted-Kisses725, so thanks again for your help and advice!
Chapter One
Mercedes watched from across the field as Mrs. Puckerman helped her grandson out of the car.
"Noah, c'mon now." The old woman said.
The boy had tear streaks down his face. "Mama Puckerman, can I just have a minute?"
Mama Puckerman walked over her grandson. "I know this is hard kiddo; your mom didn't deserve any of this, but I'm here if you want to talk."
The boy nodded. "I know, but can I just have a minute alone?"
Mama Puckerman hugged the boy, starting to sob softly. "Ok." She retreated inside, watching from the screen door, as she unpacked.
Poor thing. Mercedes thought. Wonder if there's any way I can help. The teen ran over to the crying boy.
"Hey there." She looked down at the boy. "Oh, what's a matter honey?"
The boy didn't answer, just looked at Mercedes as if she were crazy.
"Listen here kid, I live right over there, so if you need anything at all, Mercedes'll help ya, and Mrs. Puckerman'll take good care of you, so don't worry."
"I know. She's my Grandma." He laughed, between tears. "Name's Puck, I'm eight."
"It's good to meet you Puck. Now keep your head up. You'll be fine."
Puck laughed again, wiping his face with his sleeve. This girl sure was strange, but he liked her.
"Noah! C'mon inside." Mama Puckerman called.
"Coming!" The boy called back. "Bye Mercedes!" He ran, taking the creaky steps two at a time.
"Bye now! See you around!" Mercedes chuckled. She'd watch him, oh yes she would.
_p&f_
Blaine sat on the steps, cleaning his rifle, glad to finally have some peace and quiet. He was infuriated. Watch Finn. Teach Finn. Yeah whatever Dad. I'm the oldest.
"Blaine, Blaine, guess what?" Finn ran up to Blaine, nearly tackling him, as he tripped over his own feet.
"Hmm…" Blaine looked at his younger brother, indifference plain on his features.
"Dad's gonna get me a rifle! I'm gonna be a hunter just like you!"
"Good for you." Blaine said, rolling his eyes.
"You'll teach me won'tcha?" Finn asked.
"Yup." Blaine nodded expression blank.
Finn looked at him expectantly, barely containing his jitters.
"What?" Blaine yawned.
"Can we start now pleeease!" Finn hopped from one foot to the other.
Blaine rolled his eyes as he stood. "First lesson is tracking…"
"I'll be back soon Mama Puckerman!" Puck hopped off the steps, running with his ball in hand. I wonder if there are any other kids around here. He dropped his ball and began kicking it harder and harder, until he was soon out of his grandmother's yard. When he got tired of kicking, he looked around. The forest was huge. The trees were twice as big as him, but it was oddly peaceful. That was when he saw the butterfly.
"Hey wait up!" Puck ran, trying to catch up with the butterfly.
"Hey where are you going?" Blaine asked. Finn was jogging towards the forest.
"Someone's here. I'm gonna go see."
"Dad's not goin' to like you wandering off."
"I'm not going far! I'm tracking!"
Blaine rolled his eyes, as he lied back on the porch. "It's your hide."
Finn walked, trying not to crack any twigs, listening intently. He heard the sound of laughter, and someone running. As he went deeper, the laughter grew louder, and he grew more excited. There's another kid here? Wow! He continued on, wondering exactly how this new kid would be.
Puck was trying to catch the butterfly, and it wasn't easy. Why won't it stay still? He had already gone too far, and it was getting late. SNAP! He heard a loud sound, and turned. What was that?
"Hello?" His voice came out small in the huge glade.
SNAP! Finn cursed, using a choice word he'd picked up from Blaine. I guess I'm not as good a hunter as I thought. He entered the glade, and saw the boy, standing in the center of it.
"Hey you!" Finn shouted. "Are you new here?"
Puck turned around, noticing Finn for the first time. "Hi. Uh-huh."
Finn walked closer to the boy. "So what's your name kid?"
"Noah, but people call me Puck."
Puck, why does that sound familiar? Finn thought. He'd ask Blaine about it when he got home.
"Cool! I'm Finn! I'm a hunter."
"So whatcha doing?" Puck asked.
"Trackin'." Finn replied. He was still looking for the trespasser.
"What're ya trackin? Maybe I can help." Puck said.
Finn listened, but all he heard was the breathing of the boy beside him. "I think it's you!"
"Me?"
Finn nodded. "Guess so."
"You wanna play hide and seek, see how good of a tracker you really are?" Puck said.
Finn stopped. "I… I dunno. Um.. It's gettin' late."
"C'mon! Let's have some fun!" Puck teased. Then he ran. "Betcha can't catch me hunter!"
Finn sighed, but then a smile formed on his face. C'mon Finn, have some fun! He scolded himself. The voice inside his head sounded an awful lot like his mother. He could never forget that voice.
"C'mon! Don't just sit around daydreaming like a girl!" Puck shouted.
That did it. Finn was provoked. He walked slowly forward, two steps, before breaking into a run chasing the other boy.
_p&f_
"Mercedes honey? This is Mrs. Puckerman. Have you seen Noah?" Mercedes bit her lip as she listened to the woman growing increasingly worried on the other end of the phone.
"I thought he was playing in your yard. I saw him kickin' that ball of his round this afternoon."
"He was supposed to come in twenty minutes ago. He's not even in the yard anymore. Would you mind checking the woods for me dear?"
Mercedes face palmed. The woods. Of course! "Course I will Mrs. P."
"It isn't like him to be late. Just please tell him to hurry." Mercedes walked out the door, placing the phone on the table as she did so. As she walked down the road to the woods, she saw a familiar truck.
"How ya doing Mr. Schuester?" She waved to the man as he drove past, earning a slightly annoyed nod in return, along with a deliberate slap of dust to the face. Jeez! She wiped her face, shaking her head in disgust. I get everything that happened to the man, but seriously?
As the girl neared the woods, she heard laughter. Seems like Puck's having fun. She saw the two boys running around playing, and gasped. I'll just let them have a few more minutes.
Mercedes chuckled, but then groaned. This wasn't good. They were too young to know what would happen, and Mercedes wasn't going to be the one to ruin it, but as she watched, she knew that the two boys would have to learn eventually.
Puck nearly ran into Finn as he stopped suddenly. "What's going on?" Puck asked.
"Someone's here. Let's go see!" Finn said. He ran, followed closely by Puck.
When the two boys reached the entrance, they saw Mercedes.
"Hi Mercedes!" Finn said. "Whatcha doing here?"
"I could be asking you the same question." Mercedes laughed. "Your daddy's on his way home right now. Saw him on my way here."
Finn paled, before giving a small smile. "Is he anywhere near home 'Cedes?"
Mercedes nodded. "I wouldn't try sneakin home now. He's bound to notice you ain't there."
Puck looked from Finn to Mercedes, feeling awkward and out of place. "Uh…" Before he could get a word out, Mercedes spoke.
"Puck, you gotta get home. Your grandma's worried sick."
"Aww damn! I forgot." He ran. "See ya tomorrow Finn?" Puck asked over his shoulder.
Finn nodded quickly, as if trying to get it out before changing his mind, as the boy ran away.
"Can you walk me home Mercedes?" Finn asked.
"No point now Hon'. Your Daddy'll be here any minute." Mercedes took a seat, her back against the bark of the tree, and Finn slid beside her.
"'Cedes, did Dad seem in a good mood?"
"He seemed…annoyed."
"Oh." Finn's face fell. "Guess I'm in big trouble huh?"
"I can't say." Mercedes replied waiting for the inevitable, and wondering just how these two boys' friendship would play out.
Blaine sat up, rubbing his eyes as a familiar car engine woke him from his sleep.
"God damned fake…" Blaine stood up and walked over to his dad, who was ranting as usual.
"Rough sales day?" he asked.
He didn't get an answer, just an annoyed sigh, and then his dad noticed. "Where's your brother?"
Blaine looked around, trying not to meet his dad's eyes. "Not sure. But I think he said something about tracking in the woods."
"He did? Why didn't you go with him?"
Blaine mumbled something, incoherently, still not meeting Will's eyes.
"I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that." Will put his hand to his ear, trying to hear what Blaine said.
"I'm not his babysitter!" Blaine shouted.
"You watch your mouth." Will snapped.
Blaine rolled his eyes, but he knew his dad was pissed and wouldn't want to talk. He never does.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself." Will said.
Blaine passed his dad up, bumping into him forcefully as he stormed into the house. Will shook his head and stormed down the path towards the woods.
Mercedes stood up, as she heard familiar footfalls. "Finn honey, time to go."
The young boy's eyes opened, and he was groggy. "Say wha…"
"FINN!"
Finn immediately stood eyes brightening, from fear or excitement Mercedes couldn't tell. She backed away, still keeping watch, but far from the view of Will Schuester.
"Dad! Guess what?"
"Not now Finn. Let's get home."
Finn ran keeping pace with his dad's much longer strides quite well for his age. "But Dad… I gotta tell ya…"
"I'm sure that whatever it is can wait."
Finn nodded. "I guess…"
The pair walked silently, Will holding the door open for his son.
"I told you to stay in the yard." Will said. "Finn, why did you leave?"
Finn rubbed the back of his neck, trying anything and everything possible, so he would not have to meet his father's gaze. "I was just practicing huntin'. I thought I heard someone, so I went to track 'em."
"Why didn't you ask Blaine to go with you?" Will asked, kneeling so he was eye level with his son.
"He didn't seem like he wanted to. I didn't wanna make him mad."
"Uh-huh…"
"Can I go now?" Finn asked, as he tried to skirt around his father.
"Not so fast now Sport. What were you doing in the woods for so long?"
Finn bit his lip. "Trackin'."
"Tracking what?"
Finn thought fast. I ain't gonna tell him yet.
"A butterfly." Finn lied. "Can I go now?"
Will nodded, patting Finn on the shoulder, as he ran up the steps.
_p&f_
Puck burst through the door, and walked around looking for his grandmother. "Mama Puckerman!"
The silver haired woman looked up from the photo albums. "In the living room dear."
As Puck walked in, he surveyed the living room. The television was on, but muted. An evening news report played as New York was shown. The words, SINGLE MOM KILLED IN DRIVE-BY scrolled the screen. A woman with dark hair, and olive skin was shown smiling next to a young boy with a barely visible Mohawk. Like clockwork, Puck felt the tears come, sliding down his cheeks. Mom… why'd you have to leave?
"Oh Noah… I'm so sorry, I didn't even realize what was on. Blasted reporters have to just keep talking about it don't they?" Mama Puckerman stood up with a fury, nearly breaking the power button as she shut the TV off. "Come on, and look at some pictures with me."
Noah wiped his face, sniffling as he sat next to his grandmother. "Mama Puckerman Did I do something wrong?"
Mama Puckerman placed the photo album aside. "Why would you think that?"
"I was mad at Mom 'cause she didn't get me candy, and when we got in the car, as we were pulling out, there was shootin', and Mom fell. It was like she was sleeping, but she wasn't. She didn't wake up. If I hadn't been fighting Mom about the stupid candy, they wouldn't have shot at us."
Mama Puckerman didn't know what to say. She simply pulled her grandson into her lap. "It's not your fault. Never sweetie. It's those other people's fault. Never yours. Your Mom won't blame you either. She loves you, and is always with you. Never forget that."
"Yes'm." Puck said.
Mama Puckerman adjusted her glasses. Time for a happier subject hmm? "So you were gone a long time. What did you do all day?"
"I went explorin' in the woods."
"The woods? What did you find?"
"There was another kid, and we played hide and seek, and tag, and Finn was really good at finding me, even when I hid in the hardest to find spots!"
Mama Puckerman froze. Oh my. "Noah, listen to me. Please be careful… around Finn. His father's a dangerous man."
Puck was disbelieving. "Dangerous Mama Puckerman? Finn won't let anything happen. We're friends."
Hope so darling. I really hope so. Mama Puckerman sighed. "C'mon Noah, get ready for bed."
Puck didn't move from the couch. "A few more minutes please?"
Mama Puckerman shook her head. "You've been out all day having fun. You have to be tired by now."
"Nuh-uh." Puck yawned.
"You just gave yourself up kiddo. Sorry." She picked Noah up, carrying him upstairs. The boy was out in all of five minutes.
A/N: And that's chapter one. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Next Chapter: More background on Finn and his family. Finn and Puck's second meeting, and more.
R&R!
Tif S out