WARNINGS: Kidnapping, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Male Slash, Abuse, Violence, Forced Crossdressing, Forced Relationship, and One-Sided Relationship. Characters are 21 years and older.
Get ready for one messed up ride.
Summary: Arnold is the kindest man around: counseling anyone and offering advice to all. When a notorious gangster takes an interest in the one who saves him one winter day, Arnold has no idea he's helped the wrong guy. Obsession grows and soon Arnold's entire world is upended as he's forced out of his life and into the hands of a mob boss.
Obsession ch. 1 – Kidnapped
"Gerald," a young man tossed the football to his best friend as they walked along the sidewalk. Autumn leaves littered the path. "From the way you talk about Phoebe, I'd say she likes you back."
"No way, Arnold." His best friend flipped the ball, catching it once before throwing it back. "She's outta my league."
Arnold smiled, patient and kind as he caught the ball. "You've known her since elementary school. If anything, it wouldn't hurt to let her know. We both know she'll be flattered even if she doesn't reciprocate."
"Aw, man." Gerald swept an arm out, gesturing at the rundown shops of their neighborhood. "You make it sound so easy."
Arnold laughed. "It's simple, not easy."
They continued to walk, occasionally swapping the football as buildings gradually shifted from stores to residences until they arrived at Arnold's stoop.
"Wanna come in?" Arnold grabbed the keys from his jacket pocket.
Gerald shook his head. "Sorry, pal. I've gotta get ready for work. College won't pay itself, you know."
"Yeah," he offered a tired smile. "Hope you won't have to kick out any drunks tonight."
"Pfft, me too." Gerald pulled on the strings to his hoodie. "At least being a bartender means I get a employee discount. See you 'round, Arnold."
"Good game. See yah." Gerald wandered off down the street and Arnold unlocked the door, stepping inside and kicking off his shoes.
He had just a moment to shrug off his jacket when a knock resounded on the door. Did Gerald forget something? He grasped the knob and opened the door without checking through the peep hole.
A stranger, brown skinned with a mustache and a large hat, smiled at him in the doorway. Huh. The man was oddly familiar… He blinked before tilting his head and giving a puzzled smile. "May I help you?"
"Ah, sí. This is the boarding house Sunset Arms, lo cierto?"
He relaxed, realizing this was possibly a potential tenant. Given the smallness of the neighborhood, he had little luck in finding people who not only needed lodging but could stay for a long period of time. With the chance to have a tenant, and thus another stream of income, he cranked up the charm and stepped aside. The man seemed pleasant enough.
"Come inside," he opened the door wider. "Would you like any tea?"
Arnold missed the odd edge to the stranger's growing grin. "Si, that would be nice."
"Alright, follow me." He led the way down the hall and into the dining room.
A quick bustling through the nearby kitchen later, he had two cups of herbal tea ready and set them atop the dining room table. The stranger wrapped large hands around the mug and smiled.
"Gracias, Arnold."
"You know my name," Arnold sat himself in the chair across from the man. "So what's yours?"
The stranger answered after a beat. "Eduardo. I understand you have space in su casa por una más?"
"Yes," Arnold answered and sipped at the tea, taking a moment to work high school spanish lessons through his mind. It'd been years since then, he was rusty. "All the spaces are open, actually, so if you decide to stay here then you can pick your room."
"Qué bueno!" Eduardo shifted, one hand vanishing beneath the table as he directed his gaze to something on the wall behind him. "Oh? Who are they?"
Arnold put the mug down and twisted in the chair. The framed photo of his parents hung beside another photo of his deceased grandparents. Fabric rustled as his expression softened, eyes lingering. "Those were my parents. And grandparents, too, actually."
He sighed and faced forwards with a smile, noting Eduardo was leaning across the table with arms folded. "But enough about that. Would you like a tour?"
Eduardo uncrossed his arms and lifted the mug. "In just a moment. I'd like to finish my tea first and you should too."
Arnold furrowed his brows. Something was off about the man but he couldn't pinpoint what or why. The guy was also vaguely familiar but he didn't know from where. Still, he didn't seem that bad. Just...odd. Like Helga or Curly. Especially Curly. Who knew what went on in that guy's head?
He shrugged and sipped at the tea, scrunching his nose. That's odd. It tasted... off, somehow. He could've sworn it tasted lighter a second ago rather than feeling thicker.
"So," he searched for a conversation topic as he drank. "How'd you know my name?"
"Ah, mi tesoro, you don't remember me?" The man grinned wider, something dark and sinister.
He frowned. "No, do I know you from somewhere?"
"Sí. You once helped me long ago, Arnold."
His vision started to blur and he blinked fast to clear it. "I did? When?"
"Last winter, in fact. When I was in need of a warm blanket and hot cocoa, you gave me your blessing."
His head seemed to lighten and he struggled to move his jaw and form coherent words. "Blessing? Winter..? I never..."
The man leaned forwards, taking the mug from his hands. "My name is not Eduardo."
Blackness creeped across dilated pupils.
"It is La Sombra and I am here to make you mine."
~oOo~
Arnold woke to a killer headache and plush blankets. He groaned, curling against a nearby pillow, and buried his face into the soft surface. Sunlight burned through the fabric as he inhaled the scent of unfamiliar cologne. Green eyes snapped wide.
He tossed off the covers only to sway woozily before gathering his bearings and scanning the surroundings. A grand bedroom with windows towering over a kings sized bed sat between side a nightstand and mahogany armoire. One plush couch reclined in front of a coffee table and a clean desk stood in front of a swivel chair. Nearby that was a door open to a visible bathroom. A mirror atop a fireplace completed the room and he frowned as his head throbbed. Where in the world was he?
He clambered off the bed and stumbled on socked feet to the only closed door. The knob twisted beneath his hand but the door wouldn't budge. Locked? Why would he be locked in a room? White knuckles rapped against the white painted wood and he rasped for help.
Moments passed and he sagged, deciding to drink water from the bathroom sink before attempting again. He shuffled into the bathroom, eyes widening as he realized it was just as elaborate as the bedroom. It had a large bathtub, a glass shower corner, marble counter with a deep sink, and a toilet tucked into the corner. He shook his head, regretting the motion as his balance faltered, and he turned a knob. Cupped hands and several drinks later, he returned to the room and tried to call for help.
When no response came, he sighed and turned to the windows. Investigating for a lock proved fruitless, but even if there was a way to open it, he was a good three stories high. He'd break a limb from a fall like that.
Sighing, Arnold had just decided to explore the room when the door swung open. He perked, hopeful until he recognized the man and his situation clicked into place.
"You kidnapped me…" He stared in disbelief as La Sombra grinned. "Wha...why?"
"I have been watching you, Arnold." La Sombra prowled forwards. "Ever since you showed me such rare kindness that winter, I had to know…"
Arnold backpedaled until he hit the wall.
"...are you truly a good man?" A hand reached for his face but he tilted his chin up and away with a disturbed frown as he eyed the taller man.
"I don't...what do you want from me?"
La Sombra clicked his tongue. "Always the question they ask. Tell me, niño, how often have you helped someone free of charge?"
"I…" It was hard to think as the man grasped his chin and forced him to look into the intense stare. "I don't know…?"
The man let him go to face the windows and he breathed a sigh of relief as he slouched. "Too many times to count! Estás un dios in human flesh!"
"What?" His mind whirred as he rummaged for spanish meanings. "What, no! I'm not a god, I'm just a good guy!"
La Sombra whirled on him with wild eyes. "Then estás un hijo de los dios! It's impossible for any mortal to be as kind as you!"
Arnold flinched as his captor grabbed his shoulders and dragged him into a broad chest. "Lemme go!" The button down shirt in his mouth muffled the words as he pushed.
"No," La Sombra sounded borderline insane. "You are mine. Understand? Mine."
"I'm a person!" He protested, trying to gain enough wiggle room to lift a leg and knee the creep in the groin and maybe bolt outta there.
"Not a person, a treasure." La Sombra cackled. "Un tesoro. And you shall act as such."
Fear nearly drilled a hole in his chest. This guy's insane. Arnold thought, eyes growing wild. But how do I get outta here?
The man grabbed him by the shirt collar and hauled him off the wall and to the armoire. An arm flung open the wooden doors as the other kept his flailing form captured. La Sombra threw him to the ground to grasp a pair of fabric from the clothes rack.
"First, we must clean your appearance." La Sombra turned only to find he was gone. "Mierda."
Arnold sprinted down the hallway, the faint shout of "guards" following him. His lungs burned as he curved a corner and sped down stairs, skipping steps and jumping to the wooden platform. His captor cursed loudly once more and footsteps pursued him, fast and gaining quickly.
Arnold picked himself up despite the acid in his legs and continued down the winding staircase. The last step and the front door had just come into view when a hulking man raced out of a nearby doorway and cut him off.
He cursed inwardly and whipped his gaze around the hallway but the guard was approaching fast and he made to retreat up the stairs when footsteps thudded behind him and a hand snatched his shoulder. He turned and paled.
La Sombra, eyes dark and face heated with fury, tightened the grip on his shoulder and snarled. "Treasure does not run from its master."
Ice spidered up his spine and he leaned away just as the man forced him up one step and grabbed him by the throat. He wheezed as the hand threatened to crush his windpipe. His pulse became pronounced underneath the pressure.
His captor smiled, sick and sadistic. "Bueno. You should be afraid."
Arnold choked. "Let...lemme go…"
La Sombra growled, grip tightening slowly. Arnold gasped, desperate for air as black spots crept across his vision and his head lightened. His body fell limp. His captor released him and he crumbled to the ground, coughing.
"Come, tesoro," La Sombra grabbed his elbow, hauling him upwards only for him to fall back to the steps onto his knees. "...perhaps I held too long."
A hand hooked beneath his knees and another behind his shoulders, sweeping him into a broad pair of arms. Without enough air, he didn't struggle in the bridal-style hold but his face did burn with embarrassment.
His captor returned them to the bedroom, locking the door and dumping him atop the mattress. Arnold wheezed and rubbed his throat. It was sore but functioning fine. La Sombra once more went to the armoire and revealed clothes on a clothes hanger.
"As I was saying," the man placed the fabric atop the bed. "You need to be cleaned. I allowed you to wear those feo rags but I expect you to wear whatever I give you from now on."
Arnold scowled. "I'm not a doll. You can't treat me like this!"
La Sombra cocked a brow. "You are in my house. In my room. Under my control. You best obey me, tesoro, or I'll do more than just choke you."
Silenced, Arnold averted his focus onto the fabric. When he realized it was a dress of all things, he recoiled. "That's a dress."
"And you will wear it." La Sombra rolled his eyes. "Shower now."
Arnold hopped off the bed, gingerly touching his throat, and retreated a step. "What's wrong with the clothes I already have?"
"Ask another pregunta and I will bathe you myself."
He glared, simmering with growing frustration, and grabbed the dress. He stormed past the man to the bathroom only for a palm to snatch his elbow and spin him.
La Sombra pierced him with a possessive stare. "You will like it here, Arnold…"
"...Because you will never leave."
~oOo~
Notes: I didn't intend to start writing a long Hey Arnold! fic, but my favorite story idea (kidnapping the hero, stuffing him into a dress, and molesting him gay-style) is a hard habit to shake. Maybe one day I'll be creative and write something new.
Leave a review if you're not too traumatized, heh. Thanks for reading!