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

7: The Sound of Love's Marching Band, How They Hold You Like a Gun

It wasn't as eerie as you rushed down the stairs to the first floor, briefly taking note of how you could never bring yourself to simply walk down. You opened the door to find another nice, clear-skied sunny day. You scheduled the time so that about two hours in (usually four hours felt short with your friends) the sky would start changing into those beautiful new hues. Not necessarily a sunset yet, just more colorful.

You made your way to Zim's house, taking a similar route as from the school. Although you were terrible with directions, you took note last time of the addresses of his neighbors. You wrote it into the map and followed its instruction, reaching your destination in about five minutes. Your internal boasts at being so uncharacteristically attentive were cut off as, with one sharp movement, Zim'd door swung open. It hit the wall loudly behind it but Zim's voice spoke even louder.

"How dare you keep me waiting?! I almost thought you wouldn't come! Which is ridiculous, of course, because after all, who would want to skip out on an evening with me?"

"Sorry," You checked the time, hopefully for the last time today. Or the second last time. "I- uh... Zim, I was only one minute late." You looked down at him with a deadpan stare.

You internally laughed at how even when standing at the top of the door's steps he still looked short. Not too much shorter than you, sure, but short nonetheless.

"Exactly! An entire minute of my time- Wasted! On waiting for you of all people!"

To look on the bright side of things, you weren't worried anymore. Annoying him seemed like a delightful concept whenever he raised his voice at you.

"Yeah, sorry. Anyway- I heard about a restaurant nearby that serves Latino food! In other words, my people's food. Which again, in other words, means it's the best food on the planet! Hopefully. If you're not allergic to it that'll be cool."

Zim cringed as you finished your last sentence. I guess he agrees.

"Eh- sure." He marched to your side and paused. "Wait. Isn't all Earth food your people's food?"

"Well, from the perspective of an alien, sure! But to me, and to all the other humans who've lived their entire lives with only their own society; Other people are from other countries, not other planets. I'm from Brazil, a country in Latin America. So I consider myself Latina as well as human."

"Oh. I suppose that makes sense..." He thought of what a situation like that would have looked like on his planet. "You must not have many wars then, huh?"

"Pfft- No way! We have lots of wars. People always find someone to pick a fight with. In our case, it's with other humans."

"What?! Why would you attack yourselves?"

"Because we don't see them as ourselves. Although- you'd be surprised. But that's a conversation for another day."

"But now I want to know! Do you fight yourselves!? Answer me!"

"Well, sometimes people do. It's not usually a cooperative effort like in a war, where people are trained and instructed to hurt others. It's more of an individual, sadly-common thing that sometimes people do when they're very upset. Usually, it's a symptom of depression."

"But why? Why would they do that?"

"There are many reasons. They're generally pretty personal. One of those reasons is that they feel like they have to punish themselves for doing something wrong or for not being good enough. Another one I've heard is that physical pain distracts from their emotional suffering."

"Oh...That doesn't seem good."

"It's not. But some people don't know how to cope with their emotions in healthy ways."