Parenthood [INVADER ZIM]

CHAPTER 16

" Of course! I will let you have time to do those..human things." Zim said as he tugged at his Tallest's arm, " Though, Zim has one condition about the Dib-smelly.." [M/N] mentally sighs, thinking he almost gotten away with being with Dib. " Zim, I'm not quitting my job just yet."

" Okay, another condition then."

" Okay, what is it?"

" Is this necessary?" Dib asked, as he looked at the pillow tapped against his chest, one on his back. Dib understood why the helmet and knee pads along. He couldn't find any elbow pads in the store so this what they could make do. " I mean, I get the helmet but I'm not gonna shatter my collarbone if I fall." Dib added, " Plus, I still have training wheels on." Dib's bike was black and blue handle-bars. Two smaller wheels on  the sides of the back wheels.

" Oh Dib, of course it's necessary." [M/N] said as he ripes the tape, tucking it against the pillow. Zim played with the frails of his own bike, finding it odd but cute. Zim had took two hours at the store, he wanted the better and perfect bike, better than Dib's. He settled with a light pink one with pony's painted on the sides, with purple frills coming from the handle bars which were pink too. He also had a pink helmet on, knee pads as well but two pillows tapped to his back and front. " I don't want you two getting hurt, you both are my fragile smeets after all." [M/N] mutters to himself.

" What?" Dib asked as [M/N] smiles in response, " Nothing." Dib raised an eyebrow but didn't question him. He looked down at the bike, grasping the handle bars, and pressed his feet to the peddles. He was still nervous, but the excitement overtook the fear. His father didn't teach him how to ride a bike, an actual one, not the big wheel he had. His father was just too busy at work, which was fine. It had to be fine. " Can we start?" Dib asked.

" Hold on Dib, I'm making sure Zim is strapped in." [M/N] said, as he checks over the Invader who grips the handles tightly. He wasn't going to fall, he had training wheels as well. " Gaz, is the camera on?" [M/N] asked the purplenette, who held the camera up, the red button blinking. Without making a sound, she sticks a thumbs up. " Alright, the nice store lady said, you guys just need to practice with the training wheels for a while, build up the confidence before trying without." [M/N] said, as he looked over the two. " Just a practice run."

" How..How do we move?" Zim asked, as he looked around, for something to signal how to start the bike. He looked over to Dib and noticed his legs were on the pedals, slowly he pressed his feet against the pedals which surprised him a bit when the pedals went down in one direction, and up in the other. The bike moved an inch and Zim chirps a bit in surprise. So this is how the human-worm's toy is...Zim..has conquered it! Zim repeated the action and the bike began moving, the grip on the bike handles didn't loosen but he held on as he pedals around.

Dib soon joins the fun, pedaling, mostly going in a circle but still pedaling like Zim. Both boys almost crashed into each other a few times but in the last second, they missed each other, much to Zim's annoyance. [M/N] watched, feeling a sense of proud when they were learning how to ride, especially for Zim, who crackles a bit, and the grin on his face said everything. Zim was having fun, without destroying anything, cutting things open, he was acting like a cute smeet. They look like kids, actual kids, in the beginning they were screaming at each other to either cut them open or to not touch him, now they were trying to run each other with their bikes. They seem so content.

" Daddy!? Daddy?!" Zim breaks beside [M/N], almost falling over but kept his balanced. " Can Zim now ride the bike without these stupid wheels of training? Zim has accomplished the act of riding, now he wants, no, NEEDS to ride without the smeet wheels!" Zim said as he looked at [M/N] who chuckles.

" For once, I'm agreeing." Dib stops behind Zim, looking at [M/N]. " Could we please take the wheels off? I think we're ready, or at least I am." Zim shakes his fist at Dib who sticks his tongue back. " Now, Now, I'll remove them but make sure your feet are planted on the floor, the woman said to." [M/N] said as he grasped the screwdriver and began undoing the smaller wheels from the bike. Zim and Dib did what they were told and watched [M/N] undo the screws, the small legs fall onto the ground.

" Okay, I'll do Dib first. I'll hold on and you'll paddle." [M/N] told the human as he held his hand at the back of the seat, " Hold on." Dib held the handles and began paddling, [M/N] walking behind the male. He watched him paddle, once [M/N] seen he was good enough, he let go and Dib began riding by himself, a bit wobbly but he had good control. " That's wonderful!" [M/N] smiled before walking back to Zim, " Now you just copy Dib." [M/N] said as he began pushing the invader.

Zim grasped the handles tighter, and began paddling slowly, trying to copy Dib, sticking his tongue out in concentration. The Irken soon caught up, and kept going but a hand still held him. " Let go! Daddy, I can do it." Zim said, as he kept paddling, " Daddy?" Zim asked, looking at the Tallest, " I got it. Let go! Let Zim go." [M/N] blinked, a bit and noticed Zim pleading for him to let go. Let go? I guess..

[M/N] lets go and Zim zips off towards Dib who laughs when Zim missed him. The Tallest stared at them, smiling a bit but he felt a bit empty? He had never felt this empty before, he only felt this when Zim was sent off to Invader training. Like this was the last time he would see Zim again, like Zim wasn't going to come home. [M/N] could see him right there on the pink bike, riding around with a joyful expression. He can literally see him, but why would he feel lonely?

" It's called empty-nest syndrome." Gaz said coming up beside the babysitter, holding the camera still. " That's why you didn't let go." Gaz added as she kept the camera on the two boys. " I..I don't have a nest." [M/N] said quietly. Gaz shakes her head, " It means you're not ready for Zim to grow up, or more..or..I don't know How age works. But you think he's gonna leave the nest, or well, home? Ugh, I don't know man." Gaz huffed. It makes sense..I mean..Zim..and I have been close since the day he was made..maybe..that's why he was so angry the other night...that he was losing me...to Mateo and the kids...

" It's painful." [M/N] said, Gaz nods her head, unsquinting one eye to look to him. " I don't like it." 

" You don't have to like it, it's just all about growing up and junk." Gaz shrugs, " You still have us for a fall back plan, if Zim suddenly out grows you." She snickers a bit under her breath. [M/N] perked up a bit, Yeah, I'll still have them, though, they are not my smeets..but perhaps, She's right, this experience would make Zim more independent..

" SUFFER ZIM'S NEW RIDING ABILITY!"

" ZIM WAIT NOOO!" [M/N] and Gaz looked towards the two boys and both sigh, seeing Zim crash into Dib making the human zip off the bike and onto the ground, the Bike beside him. Zim wasn't no better, losing control and falls into the bushes with a scream. His bike on the floor as well.

" On second thought, maybe Zim shouldn't have too much independence." Gaz sighs as [M/N] chuckles a bit as he watched the two boys stand back up shakingly but they went back on their respective bikes. " Maybe a shorter leash?" Gaz joked a bit as [M/N] chuckles a bit. Maybe a shorter leash would work for Zim.

" ZIM STOP TRYING TO HURT ME! YOU BIG FAT JERK!"

" HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"