I think I'm Dumb or Maybe Just Happy (Invader Zim x Reader)

4: I Don't Wanna Go Home Yet, Let Me Walk to the Top of the Big Night Sky

Your thoughts weren't as pleasant when you remembered that some people eat it with fruit jam and feijoada. You'd expect the fruit jam with pãopão de queijo from the maniacs who liked pinapple on pizza but feijoada? That's like dipping cake into a bowl of soup. Ugh.

You gave up on those daydreams for good when you saw Zim approaching. You weren't in the cafeteria today. You preferred to sit outside, alone by the window. It was a great day, much like the first day of school. The clouds were more scattered today. There weren't many distinguished shapes.

You held your sketchbook to your chest. You were always a bit shy about your interests with strangers. This time your reasons were better. You had been sketching some Invader Zim characters. It wasn't anything wrong, but it might have been a bit strange to know someone's being drawing you, especially after meeting Keef.

"Hi, Zim. I wanted to talk to you."

"Silence! I don't care for your filthy excuses."

"What excuses?"

"I said silence!" Honestly, what more did you expect from Zim? "I only came to remind you of how effortlessly I can destroy you."

"It's good that you brought up this topic. I forgot to tell you yesterday. I want to be impartial."

"Impartial?" He burst out laughing. You faintly frowned at him from your seat between the plants. "As if I'd have mercy on a disgusting human."

"I didn't ask for mercy. I'm just not picking sides."

"Of course, you don't want to fight me. I am Zim!" He smirked and looked down at you with his arms crossed. "You humans are all such weak, pathetic things."

You stared at him for a bit. "...Do what you wanna do. I don't want to fight you but I will if you give me a reason."

"I'm not scared of you."

"Me neither." You looked at each other in silence again. "I don't care if you destroy the Earth."

"Why wouldn't you care about the destruction of your home and your people?"

You were inclined to say that it wasn't yours. You didn't want to tell anyone about your origins just yet. Instead, you only shrugged. Zim tilted his head in confusion but didn't ask any more questions.

"I'm human. I could help you with research on my people's culture if you'd like."

Zim didn't trust you, you could tell. He furrowed his non-existent eyebrows. "Zim needs no help."

"Okay. Tell me if you change your mind."

- .. -- . -....- ... -.- .. .--.

Zim was seriously considering your proposal. He had been very pensive the entire day.

Dib had tried to capture him. Zim merely pushed him aside and walked away slowly with his hand on his chin. He hadn't said a word to anyone except for occasionally mumbling stray thoughts to himself. You supposed he was very dedicated to his reflection.

You wouldn't have guessed that a suggestion like that would have needed so much contemplating. You didn't think Zim would even take it into account. You had to admit you were a lot more entertained than was necessary. Zim didn't acknowledge his surroundings in the least.

He would trip over someone's shoe and pick himself up. Instead of shouting, he'd glare at the culprit. He'd then dust his chest and retreat to his mind. People seemed mildly scared. That's a lot more than if he were trying to be intimidating. You wanted to finish your drawings but you couldn't. You were too engaged in the current situation.

Once again, there were whispers across the hallways. Dib stared at Zim in what seemed almost melancholy. You sat beside him. Dib briefly glanced at you but looked back. He frowned in Zim's direction. He was either skeptical or repressing a longing for being taken seriously. You guessed it was both.

You asked him how he was feeling. He nodded slowly. His answer made no sense, but who were you to judge? You slid a book you'd found in your bag towards him. They wrote it for a cartoon you liked. He was almost the main character but with an alternative style and daddy issues.

It seemed to have picked his interest. He looked at it and picked it up, still staring at the cover. "What's this?"

"It's a journal. It's from a cartoon I watched about the paranormal. It might not be accurate but I thought it might be a good read."

He flipped through the pages. He read through some of the titles and watched the illustrations more closely.

"It's one of the best shows of all time. 'Gravity Falls.' The plot is amazing. I think you'd relate to Dipper."

You rambled on about the show and the similarities between Dib and Dipper for a little longer. You weren't entirely sure if he had listened to even a word you said. He was too busy reading it. His mouth gradually evolved into a grin. He was rushing through the pages, trying to take in as much information before you took away the book.

"Do you wanna keep it? I already read it once."

"Really!?" He was almost louder than Zim.

"Sure." You smiled back at him. He had probably never gotten a gift before.

.- -..-. -.

Cover Art: by Kieeran

Title's lyrics:
mitski - first love/late spring (lyrics)