Arnold Shortman x Orphan! reader (Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie)

Humanitarian Arnold

(Y/n)'s p.o.v

I told Gerald about staying awake a bit later than usual, just in case Helga actually does stop by for his help, and I just go to catch the bus home. The bus starts to come up, it stops, so I dig in my pockets and find the right amount of change for home. Walking in I set the change in the thing and walk on, Arnold's already on here, so I sit behind him. He didn't notice me walk on, so I lean forward and snatch his hat off of his head, I tried not to laugh. Arnold noticed his hat gone, so he turns to tell a random stranger off, but sees me instead as I'm smiling.

"Hey Arn, just wanted to get your attention" I say and hand him his hat, he leans back in his seat and goes back to looking out the window. I go to do the same, but hear him say "I just wish I could see them again" my heart cracked a bit at his tone. "I'm tellin ya, Arnold... good things happen to good people, one way or another" I say after a second.

-time skip-

We were so far from the boarding house, it's taking a while to even get back, but instead of being in silence I sigh and squeeze my hand in between the seats. Arnold looks at my hand confused, so I set my hand on his shoulder as I smile softly. My eyes are a bit glossy as I remember what he said last night, but I say "yeah... because it's been so long since you've seen them. You can't even remember when that was, but you just have that image of them in your head. Just thinking you see them everywhere, but it turns out to be some other kids' parents.. and I feel stupid whenever it happens."

It took me a second to realize I was talking about me more than him, so I look up to see Arnold looking back at me with sympathy. Side smiling I just say "I... know what you mean" before he could say anything we got to the boarding house. We walk out of the bus and up the stairs, Arnold gets the leash off of Abner as grandpa opens the door. "Well, that was one long sad walk, I almost rented your rooms out" grandpa jokes a bit to us. I smile softly saying "hi grandpa" Arnold just stays silent as he's looking sad, but we walk in anyways.

"Someone came to see ya, Arnold, they're up on the roof" grandpa informs us, so we share a confused look, then we look back at him. I was the one to ask "the roof??" Grandpa then says "I dunno, I just work here, (Y/n) and short man." Arnold waves grandpa off as he walks up the stairs, I look at grandpa as he winks at me. Realization hit as I smile big and follow after Arnold, and I can hear grandpa following after me. We reach the roof and see everyone Arnold has helped "surprise!" Everyone says and starts chanting his name.

'Gerald, what did I tell ya?...' I think to myself slyly as I smile big at the sight, Arnold then says "this is incredible, everyone's here." Gerald then says "you better have a seat, Arnold" he leads our best friend to sit down, but I didn't notice Arnold grab my hand. I also get led to sit down, but I'm in between Arnold and Sid as Arnold is still confused on what's happening. "Why? What's going on??" Arnold asks confused, so I smile at this and say "lights!" The lights go out instantly. A projector starts to show a sign that says "'THE LEGEND OF ARNOLD'" and Sid is standing with a smile.

"The legend of Arnold will be passed down from kid generation, to kid generation and onward, and Gerald is the keeper of all legends. The teller of all tales; take it away, Gerald!" Sid says and motions to Gerald, and now he's on screen. "We call him Arnold.. friend to all, force for decency, doer of good" Gerald says to describe Arnold. The video changed from scene to scene of Arnold helping someone one way or another. Whether it be with Gerald Field, Rhonda and Nadine's friendship, I can't remember the baseball one.

Then there he is with Eugene for his bike, but I start trying to listen to Gerald talk about Arnold "he's one of the most dependable, trusty, blue friend I can ever imagine. Help you in a second, no questions asked! And I know plenty of others say the same" I know where this is going. "Let's hear from some people, who Arnold has helped" Gerald says on the video, but I laugh a little at the voice crack. Here's Stoop Kid on the video "I would've never left my stoop, but now look at me; sittin on the biggest stoop in the city. And it's all because of Arnold, now I can harass people from my stoop and off my stoop!" Stoop Kid says and laughs.

After a second he stops laughing to say "anyway, guy's got a great heart" Rhonda is shown as she's taking a bunch of selfies. Yet she says "he helped me get over myself, now I'm tolerant, gracious, and self-effacing. Oh, and humble! I'll get a copy of this, right?" I roll my eyes playfully at her, but know she still got her point across. Now there's Dino Spumoni on the screen as he says "Arnold put me back together with my old partner Don, and remade my career. I get applause from fans, but Arnold's the real star, baby!" My heart feels so full from this.

Now we see Pigeon Man on screen as he has a bunch of pigeons behind him "Arnold helped me escape the cage of my old rooftop habitat. Now, I'm as free as a bird! Merci, Arnold" 'I forgot about Pigeon Man, honestly' I think to myself. Patty is on screen as she says "Arnold listened to me and treated me like another friend. He's, y'know, pure of heart - I'll never forget that, Arnold" I stopped paying attention to the video. Yet I could still hear everyone's way of wording Arnold as I playfully elbowed him, he chuckled softly.

As the video went on I hear Gerald again as he says "pure of heart - that's Arnold, and that's why he deserves to win the trip to San Lorenzo. Because he's done so much for others.. he's a humanitarian, just like his parents, and they help us through humanity." One of the last clips was of Monkeyman when we got done building his little house for him. He picked both Arnold and I up as he yells out his name, but the scene changed to the boarding house steps. "Hey Arnold, you're a bold kid, and a true hero" Gerald finished off the video, but Harold and Stinky got stupid.

Those two tried to do another mooning, but Sid covered it up with the end card sign while nervously laughing. Everyone around us starts cheering, so I look at Arnold saying "I told you good things happen to good people." Arnold hugs me out of happiness, but he stops as he wipes a few tears away saying "thank you all so much. But, aren't we too late to enter the contest?" 'Oh yeah-' "I have wonderful news, Arnold. Once the Helpers for Humanity saw this video we were immediately selected to go to San Lorenzo."

Tbc

Okay that's it my wonderful foodies~ Now I hope I can serve you another chapter again soon!

~ILoveFood