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

"...Have you ever done that?"

"Me? Oh- No, no, never! I had a friend who did though. I saw it once. But I don't want to talk about that."

"Yeah, that's alright." He stayed silent for a moment. You would've broken the silence with one of those conversation topics but you were curious. It seemed like he was about to say something.

"...I'm uh- You didn't need to see that." Zim tried his best to comfort you.

He wasn't the best when it came to feelings and he didn't like apologizing. Especially not when he had done nothing wrong. But it didn't seem right to not comment at all. You knew that already so it did a lot to flatter you. You gave him a small yet heartwarming smile.

"Thank you," You took this as an opportunity. Not so much to teach him about affection, but to give him a chance at feeling it.

You gently patted his back. You would've reached for his head but his wig was in the way, your second choice would've been his shoulders but shoulder pads were part of his uniform. So you settled for his back instead, just above his Pak. His eyes widened at the touch. He looked in your direction.

"I appreciate you trying to make me feel better." You kept your sweet smile.

He was about to tell you to take your filthy hands off him when you did that yourself. Yet although it felt as if you'd read his mind. He didn't feel very satisfied with it. You led him down a different street and he only now noticed that both of you left the neighborhood a while ago. He stopped abruptly as you walked in front of him to his other size.

He raised an unexistent eyebrow as you jumped onto a small wall to his left. You opened your arms at your sides. You didn't need that for balance but it felt natural. You took long steps, extending your legs in their entirety much like Zim's marching. Except he didn't get quite as far with his size as you did.

Again, not much of a difference, but making fun of him was hilarious in your mind. You liked his size honestly. It made him look more like himself. Besides, it was much cuter that way.

"What was the purpose of that?"

"Does it need a purpose? It's fun." You shrugged, leaving him more confused.

With an amused smile, you absentmindedly changed to a more interesting topic, now folding your hands behind your back.

"Hey, what would you do if you were a tree?"

"I- what?" He seemed almost dumbfounded in his confusion. That question always got the best reactions. And the most unexpected answers.

The two went on with their ramblings. Zim still wasn't accepting the fact that you had no ulterior motives with that question. You weren't exactly sure what he expected. You suggested that maybe he thought you'd turn him into one, immediately starting one of the most outraged, fiery rants you'd ever heard.

You lost track of how many times you laughed midway through it. And of how many times he threatened to destroy your organs in a variety of different visionary and innovative ways for interrupting him. You made sure to explain that it was never your intention to make it seem as if you'd conspire against him. He excused your inadvertent menaces albeit with some suspicion.

You changed from topic to topic, barely noticing it as time went by. A lot like when you were with your friends. Only this time it was a date with a small, angry alien. Yet here he didn't seem so angry. Even with that original rant. He seemed calm and pragmatic, even during your weird hypothetical scenarios. Zim managed to come up with realistic and practical (-ish) answers. He even started making jokes. A big improvement for someone only interested in giving you orders only a day before.