Arnold belongs to Craig and Nickelodeon. Ozzie belongs to me.

Arnold and Ozzie: More Than You Know

'Calcite...rhyolite...serpentine...Wow, he's even got topaz!'

Believe or not, Ozzie Burroughs was having the time of his life, sitting up here in Arnold's room, passing the time until dinner by examining and mentally listing off the specimens in the young, oblong-headed boy's mineral collection.

All the while, Arnold, situated upon his bed, which lay in one corner of the expansive room and right under the skylight, appeared to be engrossed in a mystery novel of some sort.

'No doubt another one of those Purdy Boy novels again...' Ozzie couldn't help thinking drolly, eye-rolling.

The young Talpidean had read one of those books himself one day and honestly...His opinion...? Well, needless to say, Vector had a better selection—not to mention taste—in whodunit literature than Arnold.

Regardless, Ozzie had to admit. Literature aside, his new friend certainly had an eye for minerals and technology. The mole knew the latter for sure on account of the various gizmos and gadgets that abounded in Arnold's "humble" abode.

'Honestly, I have got to bring Tails and Rotor up here next time. If I think this place is awesome, then just wait 'til those two come up here.'

Indeed, the fox and the walrus would have a field trip the second they'd step through that door. Unfortunately, though, most of Ozzie's friends, Sonic included, had somehow gotten caught in the stream of favors from the boarders. As a result, Ozzie, being of the lucky few to have dodged the eccentric occupants of the boardinghouse, had nothing left to do besides hanging out.

On the bright side, however, Arnold, usually the one to help out around his own home, was actually free for once, too, and had suggested keeping the laconic mole company throughout the rest of the warm, lazy Saturday afternoon. At least this way, neither of the boys would be alone for the next few hours.

"Hey Ozzie...?"

Despite being subconsciously irked by the sudden intrusion of Arnold's voice—Ozzie didn't give a dang how soft it was— the Mobian fixed his companion with an even, blank look. At this moment, the Purdy Boy novel was laying at Arnold's right side, closed but also with a monochromatically blue bookmark sticking from the middle of the book's somewhat thick page-stack.

The expression, though, was the real attention grabber for Ozzie. Arnold's emerald eyes were downcast as their owner frowned pensively and rubbed one arm with the other.

'Is something wrong with him?' Ozzie thought in slight concern.

"Yes...?"

Green eventually met brown as a sigh escaped in reply. "Have you ever met someone named Helga?"

'Who wouldn't have by now?'

But Ozzie had a suspicion that whatever the reason was for Arnold's seemingly random inquiry, it held more personal significance than the younger male was admitting. Therefore, he kept the sarcastic comment to himself, and instead answered in his usual, terse manner.

'Besides, anything to pass the time would be kinda nice.'

"Yeah...why...?"

Amber twilight focused on the boy's spot, giving him a sort of orange spotlight, even though some of the light's penumbra spilled upon Ozzie and the remainder of the habitation as well. The resultant effect was rather pleasant to the eyes, one would have to admit.

Arnold merely shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Whenever she's around and someone mentions you, she suddenly gets all quiet and starts having this...distant look in her eyes. It's almost as if your name makes her think really hard about something."

'Ah, curiosity then...'

Curiosity killed the cat...or Football-Head as the case may be.

On the other hand, one couldn't quite blame Arnold for wishing to know about the mole's possible involvement in Helga's deceptively unprecedented behavior. Even to someone who had only known the fiery girl for a few months, such conduct was out of character for someone of the Pataki child's personality.

A slow, thoughtful nod and a softly uttered "I see," were all Arnold received from the Talpidean. The young football head tilted his cranium slightly to the side; that same inquisitive spark in his jellybean eyes remained glowing strongly, despite the boy's efforts to appear uninterested.

"Did you ever ask her about that?"

To that inquiry, Ozzie, much to the blonde's surprise, smirked and wagged a finger as if to say "Naughty, naughty...!"

'Oh no, Arnold, I'm afraid that's one question you'll have to find the answer to yourself.'

"Confidential...Sorry..." replied the geomancer in an apologetic tone; his smile toned down a bit.

Arnold merely sighed compliantly. 'Then I guess I better not push him then.'

"Oh...No, it's okay. You don't have to apologize. I'm just a little surprised by how much of an effect you have on her."

Ozzie silently mouthed 'oh' in firm comprehension. "Get that tons..."

"Wait, what?" his human peer asked in confusion, an eyebrow raised. Ozzie, however, had gone back to examining the minerals. He still gave Arnold an answer, though.

"Sonic thinks so...too. A lot do."

The Shortman boy hummed a bit in boyish puzzlement. 'Yeah...kind of like...'

"Now that I think about it," Arnold had a hand on his chin now. "...you do kind of remind me of Brainy. He kind of has an effect on people, too."

'I guess it's just a coincidence.'

As soon the blonde turned back to his book to continue reading, the Talpidean mole merely rolled his own eyes once again.

'In more ways than you can imagine...'