Yeah, there isn't that much to say. Just start reading. Hope you like it!
"Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to move you. Now, if you would just stop resisting..." Zim tried grabbing Dib's ankle again, but this time the human at least knew what was happening, and with slight trouble, started dodging the alien's hand. With each miss, Zim grew more and more frustrated.
"I told you to stop resisting!"
"And I asked what you're doing! But forget that, can you at least give me my glasses before kidnapping me?" His voice sounded mocking, but his request was genuine. He never liked dealing with Zim without them. If he was going to deal with a violent, insane alien then it wouldn't be too much to ask to be able to see him.
Zim rolled his eyes and wondered if he might as well replace the human's faulty eyes now he was in the process of helping him anyway. But he decided if this was how The Dib reacted to his help, trying to remove his eyes would be much more trouble than it would be worth.
"Ugh...fine." He said, a certain hint of defeat in his voice. He then looked around, before his eye landed on the table next to the bed, where Dib's glasses were laying. He started walking, while still holding on to Dib, who stared up at the ceiling, already feeling completely done with the whole situation. Once Zim had the glasses, he walked back to where he stood before, still dragging Dib along. He then casually threw them to the human on the ground, with a rather miffed expression.
Dib managed to grab them in the air and fumbled a bit before managing to put them one. He then looked directly at the alien in disguise, who had broken into his room and was still for some reason holding onto his damn leg. It might have been funny any other day, but today he expected to be nothing but miserable, and Zim was kinda interrupting that plan.
"For the last time, before you start dragging me again, will tell me what you're doing?!"
He once again rolled his eyes, and Dib wondered how they hadn't rolled out of his skull yet. Zim then closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Or, where it would have been if he had one.
"*Sigh*...I'm trying to take you somewhere." Dib waited for a moment, for Zim to follow up on his statement, but he just stared at him with an exhausted look.
"...And where are you going to take me?"
"THAT'S WHAT I CAN'T SAY!!!" Zim blurted out, his voice a mix of blame and frustration. But the frustration seemed to not be solely pointed at Dib, but instead at whatever kept him from telling the human what he was doing. Now Dib's anger was starting to shimmer down, and confusion took over.
"Wh-why not?!" He asked dumbfounded, wondering if this was all just a dream.
"IT'S A SURPRISE!!!" The alien continued, in the same tone as before. And now Dib was definitely considering that this was a dream.
"ISN'T THAT THE POINT OF A SURPRISE?! THAT YOU CAN'T SAY WHAT IT IS!" Zim continued, his voice now revealing how distressed he was feeling. It was as if something was eating him up from the inside. It was to the point that it looked like he could fall on his knees and cry at any moment. Dib decided that it maybe was time to change to another subject.
"Uhm, yes? But what are you even doing here? Shouldn't you-"
"WHAT AM I DOING HERE?!!" Zim interrupted the human, who found some solace in hearing the alien's usual aggressive tone.
"What are YOU doing here?! Shouldn't you be at the skool?!" He continued, now using his free arm to point accusingly at Dib, who suddenly realized how he had set himself up.
"...I'm sick...*Several fake coughs*"
Zim stared at him, wondering if he should feel sad for the human's pitiful attempt at deceit, or insulted at the fact he thought it might have worked. Dib stared back, hoping that Zim might just be stupid enough to have believed it.
"Don't try and lie to me, Dib-worm. Gaz has already told me of your deception."
'Damn it Gaz, out of all people, you just HAD to tell Zim.' He thought to himself when another thought crossed him.
'Wait, Gaz wouldn't have told him without him directly asking her. Which means he came over here to ask for me, and also means that he...' Dib had to cut off his thought process and decided he shouldn't come to any unnecessary conclusions. He made ready to say something, but there was a slight delay between him opening his mouth, and the words coming out. A delay that didn't go unnoticed by Zim, as he started looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"...Why do you even care that I'm not at skool?"
At first, Dib thought that Zim's shocked expression came from him being unable to answer the question. But he soon discovered that it came from disbelief, as a wave of frustration rolled over him, and he started grinding his teeth against each other. He then took a step towards Dib, lifting the human's lower body into the air.
"OF COURSE I CARE!" He shouted directly into Dib's face, who stared at him in surprise.
"If you're not there, then I have to deal with all those filthy human pigs by myself!" He continued at a slightly lower volume while placing his hand on his chest to emphasize his point.
"You're the only thing that makes that place bearable. No matter how annoying you are, or stupid, or ugly...or big-headed."
The two stared at each other for a time, with Dib's shock not disappearing for a single moment. He was unsure of what to do, what to say. It wasn't often someone told him they cared about him. But he wasn't expecting one of those people to be Zim. He expected everyone EXCEPT Zim. There always had been the chance he had cared about him, but Dib thought that Zim would rather die than ever admit it. But here he was. Just admitting that he cared about Dib, without the need for persuasion or torture. For a moment Dib wondered if he might be lying, but if he didn't mean it, then he would probably choke on the words.
A feeling of guilt suddenly washed over him, as he realized he had no idea how to respond. Not a single thing could he think of. But fortunately, Zim was there to provide him with an escape.
"Now, are you gonna let me take you out of this stinking room without a fight, or am I gonna need to find some rope?" He asked Dib, whose eyes suddenly lit up, as he realized he could be free from responding to Zim's confession. But he still looked at the alien with a wary face, thinking to himself if this really was the smartest thing to do? He then considered that it was doing that, or having to fight off Zim.
"....Okay. But you're still gonna have to drag me."
A mischievous smirk spread across Zim's face.
"Fine by me."
"Good. Let me just get my coat."
Gaz stood out in the hallway and looked on with a judging look, as Zim dragged Dib out of his room, and down the hallway. Dib looked up at the ceiling, and if he felt any shame at what was happening, his face didn't show it.
"This is sad. Even for you." She commented as they made their way past her, her tone as judgy as her face.
Dib looked up at her with a puzzled look.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I now have my own personnel slave to take me places. I don't know about you, but I consider that a win."
He gave her a self-satisfied grin, as he kept eye contact with her, as Zim continued dragging him. Gaz soon broke free from the staring contest and looked further ahead from where Dib was going. At first, he was confused at what she was looking at. Then he remembered that they were on the first floor.
"Oh, uhm, I think I will just walk down the stairs myself if you don't mind-"
Zim must have heard his comment regarding having a personal slave, as Zim didn't stop at any point while Dib was talking, and interrupted him by unceremoniously taking him down the stairs.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow-" Dib said, as with every step his head bonked against the stairs. Gaz followed closely behind, and she couldn't help but smile, as she suddenly felt rather content with the situation. When they reached the end of the steps, it would have been an understatement to say that Dib looked less than thrilled. But he did keep quiet, deciding to see this as a lesson on why he shouldn't make mocking comments directed at the person currently dragging him.
She kept following them, right up to they went out the door. She then looked on from the doorframe, while they made their way down the street. When they were finally gone, she cursed at herself for forgetting to film it with her phone.
Zim continued dragging Dib all the way to the surprise destination, earning a fair share of puzzled, shocked, and judging looks from people all around the neighborhood. But it must have been too strange for even them, as they seemed unable to say anything in the way of comments or witty remarks. Not that they ever were that witty.
Dib at first had no idea where they were going, but then he started recognizing certain houses, and street names. It didn't take long before he realized that they were slowly making their way to where Zim was living. He entertained the idea that Zim might take him inside, but he thought that the alien would never willingly do that. Then he remembered Zim's confession, and suddenly the idea didn't seem so ludicrous. He was proven right in the end as they finally reached Zim's house. He took Dib through the lawn, and right up to the front door. With a grunt, he let go of one of Dib's legs and opened the door. And then with a few heavy jerks, he moved Dib inside. He then finally let go of Dib, letting his legs slap against the floor. He let out an exhausted sigh and wiped some sweat off his brow.
"Why are you so heavy you...fat...meat-bag!" He clearly wasn't satisfied with the insult, but in the end, he just shook his head and waved dismissively at Dib, before walking through the living room and disappearing into a room on the other side. Leaving Dib to look around the both familiar, and unfamiliar house he has been observing from the outside for so many years. It had been some time since he had last managed to get inside.
He stood up, and wobbled for a bit, getting used to using his legs again. Once he was standing firm, he looked around with no small wonder. There wasn't anything in the living room that could give away that it was an alien base. It was just...strange. And that painting of what looked like a monkey was seriously creeping him out. He continued looking around, nearly afraid to take any steps. He then started rubbing off all the dirt and filth that had accumulated on his back, after having been dragged for so long. Once he couldn't feel any clumps of dirt or pieces of trash, he was satisfied. He then quickly checked his pockets.
'Yep. Forget my camera. Of course, I forget my camera.'
Dib was a bit bummed out after discovering that, but then he wondered if he could manage to steal anything from the house. Hopefully some alien technology.
Then as if the house could read his mind, he felt something staring at him. He looked slightly up and saw on the ceiling ahead of him, some kind of camera with a glowing red lens. Pointed directly at him. He stared at the camera, and it seemed to stare back. He couldn't help but gulp.
'...Maybe I should just keep my hands to myself.' He wisely decided.
"ARE YOU COMING HUMAN?!! I'M WAITING!!!" Zim yelled from somewhere in the house, though Dib could guess it came from a room right next to the living room.
"I MADE THE-"
"QUIET GIR! You'll ruin the surprise!"
"B-but I-"
"I SAID QUIET!!!"
"But I haaaaaave to say it! Pleeeaaaassse" Gir pleaded, with such vigor that Dib could hear the sheer distress in his voice.
Without taking his eyes off the camera, he slowly made his way through the living room. To his unfortunate surprise, the camera followed him, the red eye not letting a single one of Dib's movements go unnoticed. He continued, ending up walking backward to keep track of the camera. It wasn't long before he noticed he had gone into another room, closely connected to the living room. Behind him, he could hear Gir preparing to scream something but then Zim came and shushed him, to the robot's disappointment. After that, he felt Zim's eyes stare into the back of his neck, probably confused why the human still hadn't turned around. Dib didn't know either. He might have been too afraid of letting the red eye out of his sight, or he was scared of what was waiting for him when he turned around.
After an embarrassingly long time, Zim crossed his arms and started tapping on the ground with his foot.
"Uhm...Human? I'm waiting." He said, his patient starting to run thin. Even Dib was starting to feel bad about just standing there, so as a preparation he closed his eyes. Once he felt calm enough, he took in a deep breath. He held it in, and as he let out, he quickly snapped around. He hesitantly opened his eyes, his anticipation having left its mark on his expectations. But in the end, even though he had predicted what would meet him, it didn't help diminish his shock at all.
What he saw was a kitchen, decorated with Halloween, Easter, Christmas, and finally some birthday decorations. it wasn't too hard for him to figure out which theme was meant to be represented. In the middle of the kitchen, stood a round table with a few chairs around. On the table, there was a cake. Not just any cake. It was a birthday cake.
It was pretty large by cake standards and had the form of a cheese wheel. The frosting was white, and on the top, there were several sloppily placed candles, which were lit. He took a step closer, and on further inspection, there were also letters that probably at some point in the process of making the cake, meant to say happy birthday. They didn't. He also noticed that the letters were fridge magnets.
"SUPRISE!!!" Was yelled at him by Zim, Gir, and another voice that Dib couldn't see the owner of. He continued to stand in silence, the shock plastered all over his face. The thought that all of it was nothing but a dream came back, as it all seemed so unreal to the point he wanted to try and fly for the hell of it.
"I MADE THE CAKE!!!" Gir finally yelled, as if he had been keeping that sentence in all day.
"I MADE THE CAKE!!!"
"Yes Gir, we heard you the first time."
"I MADE THE CAKE!!!" The robot kept screaming, distracting Zim from Dib, who had a certain reaction to the situation.
With small movements of his eyes, he scanned the room, the decorations, and the cake. He kept shifting from one to the other as if not certain that what he was seeing was real. It wasn't that he didn't think this could have happened, he even had expected it. But seeing it with his own eyes, only filled him with denial. He couldn't accept it, and he didn't know why. Then his eyes locked on Zim, who was busy yelling at Gir. Then the denial changed to fury.
He now understood what this was. This was a joke. A joke at his expense. Yes, there was no other explanation. He could see it in that alien's eyes. There he was acting all sincere and genuine as if he hadn't planned all this to mock him. Gaz had told him all about his relationship to this sickening, and he was using it to torment him. To taunt him. That was all there was to this. He was mocking him.
"Uh...Dib-thing, are you there? Heeelllooo?" Zim asked, as he walked over to Dib, and started waving his hand in front of the human's face. A face that was slowly turning angrier with each passing second. He could barely contain it. He had done exactly what Zim would have liked and left him alone to do whatever he wants to do, and here he was using that time to keep tormenting him. Couldn't that alien freak leave him alone for a single day! And how dare he act like Dib has some kind of obligation to show up at skool just to entertain him. That was how Zim saw him. Nothing more than a clown he would laugh at when he's bored. He wasn't going to let him get away with it.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!!!" Dib suddenly screamed at Zim, who fell a few steps back, having been taken by surprise. The entire house fell silent, and Dib felt like a thousand eyes had been turned on him. Zim on the other hand looked at the human in disbelief. Then slowly his face twisted in anger, mirroring Dib's expression. It kept twisting until his sharp teeth started showing, which were shaking from the sheer pressure Zim put on them, as he clenched his jaw shut. He knew this would happen. He knew that ungrateful worm would berate him, and shout at him like he hadn't tried helping him. He should have been grateful. No, he should have been honored! How dare he defile Zim's gesture of kindness, of which that sad pig was completely undeserving.
"It's...A surprise party..." Zim said through his teeth, sounding more like venom than words.
"Oh, is that what this is?" Dib said, his resentment seething out of his mouth.
"Yes, stupid Dib-beast!"
"Don't lie to me I know what this is!" Dib started taking a few steps closer to Zim, who slowly changed posture in return. His scowl almost seemed to challenge Dib to try and do something he would regret.
"I can see it. I can see it in your face." He continued with a mad grin on his face. A manic chuckle escaped from his lips, as he delved deeper into his hatred. He just kept putting more fuel into the fire, no matter how much it started to hurt. It seemed too late to stop now.
"Eh?" The alien responded, taken slightly back from the statement. A look of concern was up for a moment, but it soon disappeared again, getting buried beneath his anger.
"I know what you're trying to do. You think this is funny, don't you?!" Dib leaned closer to Zim and aggressively poked at the alien's chest, who snarled as a response. The human then suddenly froze, before starting to laugh like a maniac. He then quickly turned, looking directly at the camera that was still following his every move, and started to point at it.
"THAT'S why the camera is following me." He said in a self-satisfied tone, believing he truly had come to a genius revelation. He then chuckled again, before turning back to Zim who was getting tired from the human's insane accusations.
"You wanted to film my reaction, right? Just so you could keep replaying this moment, again and AGAIN!" Dib yelled, earning nothing more than a tired and frustrated look from Zim, who had crossed his arms again.
"It seems you finally have gone insane, human. I'm surprised it took so long, with that paranoid brain of yours." There was no mocking in Zim's voice. He really did mean it. Which struck Dib right in the chest.
"I'M INSANE?!! What about you?!" He parried back, pointing accusingly at Zim, who also was quite sensitive on the topic of being insane.
"You come to my house, drag me-literally drag me-all the way here, where you have decorated, if you can even call it that, and set up this so-called surprise party....you even made a DAMN CAKE!!!"
"I MADE THE-"
"SHUT UP GIR!" Both Zim and Dib shouted at the same time. Gir looked at them for a bit with a sad expression, before lowering his head and walking over to a corner and sitting there. Both of them were too deep in their argument to care.
"So tell me, ZIM...Why do you feel the need...to make my life more miserable than it already is?" Dib's words were sincere and for some reason, Zim could feel them dig into his chest like spikes. Why did he care about that? If he wanted to make The Dib's life miserable, then he was allowed to, and he SHOULDN'T feel bad about it.
"Do you really need to rub it in my face that no one cares I exist? Huh? That every other person on this planet thinks I'm insane and does everything to keep away from me? Even when it comes to something as simple as a BIRTHDAY?!"
He couldn't feel it, but Zim could see it. Tears were rolling down Dib's face. They weren't big, and there weren't many. But one by one, they fell from his eyes, without him even noticing it. Zim could only look on, without knowing what to feel or even to say. He wanted to comment on it, to mock the human's weakness. But he didn't.
"Isn't it enough that you know I'm all alone?! Can't you be content with me just staying home in my misery? Do you need to personally mock me before you're finally satisfied?!" He continued, the tears soon disappearing, as his sadness was turned into anger.
"I'M NOT TRYING MOCKING YOU, WORTHLESS WORM!!! Why is it so hard for your stupid brain to understand?!"
"Then why all of this?!-" He said, turning around in a circle while gesturing to all the decorations in the kitchen.
"-Why have you made this sad excuse for a birthday party, if not to make fun of me?"
"I WAS TRYING TO HELP, YOU UNGRATEFUL STINKING PIG!!!" Zim screamed. Unintentionally or intentionally, he had kept that particular word away from his throat. He knew that was the word for what he was trying to do. But he felt hesitant to use it. Not to mention he could barely even comprehend it.
Neither could Dib, who stared at him with the same angry expression, which soon turned to confusion, as if slowly realizing that Zim's words hadn't been an insult for once. Without his permission, his body had started to relax slightly, and the tension in his body started to drip away
"What...Help me? Help from what?" Even his voice had started to soften, a fact he wasn't completely oblivious to.
"From yourself, as your little display of insanity has made very clear." He answered back with bitterness and disdain in his voice. Though the thought that soon the Dib-thing would realize his accusations were unfounded, gave him some relief.
"I was trying to alleviate you from this sad and pitiful state you're in, by making the Birth-day party your little monkey brain apparently craves so much."
"It's not about the-wait, tell me, how do you even know what a birthday party is?"
Zim scoffed at the human's question and lifted his chin in the air.
"After learning of this Birth-day ritual, I began researching and set on to try and recreate it. For you." He put a clear emphasis on the last two words, hoping it could cause some well-deserved guilt to start building up in Dib.
It only ended up making him more confused. He knew Zim always had a tendency to go all out on the most basic of things, but the way he explained it, sounded like he really wanted help. Which couldn't be possible. It was Zim after all. Yet, there was still some doubt.
"But....why?"
"Isn't it obvious? If you're wasting all of your time being sad, then you're not spending your time on what's important!"
A silence followed as Zim waited for Dib to finish his sentence. But after a few seconds, it became clear that the human had no idea what Zim was talking about.
"...Me...Spending time on ME." He slowly explained with an exaggerated voice, as if Dib was a child.
it was now finally starting to click for Dib. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, he couldn't keep denying that truth. Which was that Zim wanted to help him, and not only worked for it but put in considerably more effort into being nice than Dib thought was possible for the green menace. It was then the guilt set in, as he realized how HE was the asshole in this situation. The only thing keeping him from completely breaking down from the realization was one lingering question. Why?
"So...let me get this straight. You did all of this because...you wanted me to spend more time with you?"
"Yes! Wait, no. I mean yes! Or, uh..." It seemed like Dib managed to shortcircuit Zim's brian, as he tried his best to find some loophole that didn't make it sound he liked The Dib. But he shouldn't even have to try. It was The Dib, after all, he hated him! Hated him with his entire being! Or did he? Yes, of course, he did. All of those lies in his head were nothing but the result of Dib's emotions spilling onto him like a disease.
"What I mean is that...I simply find it ridiculous that my enemy should have to be distracted by such hindrances as-"
"So I'm still your enemy?" Dib shot in, as he finally had come up with an argument he could use to break through Zim's defenses.
"Of course you are!" He sounded a bit disgruntled about being interrupted, but his expression revealed that he was wondering why Dib needed to ask that. The answer was obvious. Why else would he do any of this, if it wasn't because the Dib-thing was his enemy? And therefore someone who needed to have all their attention directed towards Zim.
"THEN WHY ALL OF THIS! Why were you angry I wasn't there to pester you today?!"
"Because it's the only thing that entertains me on this sad excuse of a planet! Without you, I have to deal with the rest of the stupid worms that are the entirety of your inferior race."
"But why did you check up on me?"
"W-well, that was because I had to be sure that my favorite worm hadn't been killed, that's why!"
"But then you decided to help me, out of your own volition!"
The words were starting to penetrate Zim's shields. The more he thought about it, the less sense it made. Even to him.
"It...it was just because you were so pitiful that it made ME SAD!"
"But if this is only about you, then why do all of this work, why actually try to do a birthday party right, why try your best to help me, WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT ME?!!" With one final dramatic outburst, Dib had fired through all of his arguments and had ended it with the one question. The question that surrounded the whole situation. The same question that Zim was asking himself, as more and more doubts started pilling on him.
"I...I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU!!!"
"You said yourself that you did!" Dib was now right up against Zim and looked down on him. Zim cursed himself for uttering that. He should have known better than to say such stupid things around Dib.
"That...THAT WAS DIFFERENT, STOP TWISTING MY WORDS, YOU LYING FILTHY DIB!!!" Zim screamed, his stance turning defensive, as he backed away from Dib. But the human followed him. He wasn't going to let Zim get away. Not as he was seeing the cracks forming in the alien's arguments.
"HOW WA IT DIFFERENT?!!" He yelled back, now once again standing in front of Zim, who had unfortunately backed himself up against the table. There wasn't anywhere for him to escape. That wasn't true, but for him, it felt true enough.
"....SHUT UP!!!" Zim screamed, and with two words made it clear he was running out of things he could use to deflect Dib's accusations. But that didn't stop the human from getting tired of the constant back and forth. He knew one thing that could throw the alien off, making it possible to end the whole argument.
"If I didn't know any better, I would you actually like me." Dib meant for it to sound like a light jab, but when it came out of his mouth, he realized that it might actually be possible. That Zim didn't hate him anymore. And when he thought about it, he realized something else. He might not hate Zim anymore. Luckily he didn't have to dwell on that for too long, as Zim was already reacting just as Dib had thought he would. Zim had taken his arms up in disgust and was bending backward, preparing for a loud gasp.
"*Loud gasp*...HOW DARE YOU!!!"
Then something happened that Dib hadn't expected. he looked on as the alien's cheeks started turning ever so slightly pink. Something that Zim also noticed to his utter horror. He then squinted and started concentrating, as tried his best to think about all the ways he hated the Dib-beast, hoping it would drive out all those disgusting human feelings that Dib had infected him with, which was making his face flair up. It didn't work. It actually seemed to make it worse.
"I DON'T LIKE YOU!!! I HATE YOU!!!" it was a childish response, but not something Dib hadn't prepared for.
"Do you really mean that?" Dib asked, believing if there ever was a time he could spot Zim lying, then it was that moment.
"OF COURSE I DO, I...I..."
A moment of silence followed as Zim tried his best to find the words for an insult. Something that was suddenly, very difficult for him. More difficult than it had ever been for him before.
"...I HATE YOU!!! I HATE YOUR STUPID FACE, AND I HATE YOUR STUPID BIG HEAD!!!" No matter how loud, or intensely he screamed the blush wouldn't leave his face. Even his voice was starting to crack. He had used all the rational explanations, he had tried everything he could but he still couldn't convince himself that he wasn't lying. That he wasn't lying when he was saying he hated The Dib. Why was his own brain fighting against him? Why was it letting the human emotions take over his thoughts, and torment his mind?
Dib was tormented in a different way. He was tired. Maybe it was all of the emotions and thoughts whirling around in his head or maybe the entire day had just been weighing down on him, but he was tired. But most of all, he was starting to get tired of Zim, and how he kept sounding like he was lying, or not telling the whole truth. Yet he couldn't get angry at him again.
"Oh yeah? How else can you explain that you tried to help me, how else can you explain that you care about me, how else can you make sense of ANY OF THIS!!!"
"..."
Suddenly, it was over. It was all over. No one had won, and no one had lost. The end was signaled by Zim's face, as it slowly tilted downwards, and an expression of being lost filled his face. Dib couldn't remember the last time he had ever seen Zim like that. So deflated, so tired. Just lifeless in a way that made him feel bad for him, no matter how terrible Zim was. Then the aline's face lit up once again.
"I DON'T KNOW!!!"
It wasn't an exclamation of anger, but one of frustration. Towards himself. Zim started grinding his teeth together and started pulling at his antennas and head. He clenched his eyes shut, and it looked like he was physically trying to put his head back together. He was feeling a new form of pain, one he had never experienced before, one based on emotions.
Dib didn't fare much better. No matter how much he yelled or how angry he got, he couldn't blame everything on Zim. Looking at him at that moment, he didn't see the fearsome invader that wanted to take over his planet. But instead a frustrated, and very confused alien. And it was mostly his fault. He was the reason Zim was feeling like that, and it hurt more than anything Zim had ever done to him.
Exhaustion started overwhelming him, and he promptly sat down on the green and purple tiled floor. He sat and looked down, letting his mind rest for a moment. All that yelling, all that arguing, for what? So he had someone to be angry against? It always ended like that for them. He knew getting friendly with Zim wasn't going to be smooth sailing, but he expected all of the problems to be because of him. Maybe if he had self-reflected a bit, he would have seen that he himself is just as much of a handful as Zim.
While Dib was deep in his thoughts, Zim had stopped pulling at his head and had calmed down a bit. Without any invitation, Zim sat down in front of him, put his knees up to his chest, and wrapped his arm around his legs. It was a surprisingly vulnerable position. Especially for Zim. When Dib looked at Zim, he could see the same tired expression he felt on his own face. They sat there for a moment as if they were collecting all of the pieces of themselves that had been broken off in their argument, and putting them back together.
It was a little while before any of them spoke. As expected, Dib was the first to speak.
"We can't keep doing this." None of them had lost or won their argument, yet Dib's voice made it sound like he had experienced the worst defeat in his life.
"Can't keep doing what?" Zim's voice sounded exactly the same as his. Though there was a hint of loathing in his tone. Not entirely uncharacteristic for him.
"This. We can't keep arguing, then yelling, and then taking a break from said yelling. I don't think it's healthy for us."
"Speak for your own weak, inferior body. I have no such weakness." Even after all of that, the pride in his voice still hadn't left him. Something Dib kept finding that fact especially annoying. And somewhat charming.
"But don't forget that you are the one who keeps accusing Zim with your filthy lies."
Dib would normally have said something back, but for once he had to accept that Zim was right, and he was the one that was a douche. But he wasn't about to let Zim forget why he was like that.
"Okay, you're right, I'll admit it. But it's a little hard to forget how you're trying to take over the earth. Or all of the times you tried to kill me."
"You're still thinking about that?" Zim asked, with genuine curiosity, tilting his head to the side.
"YES!" Dib said, though he quickly calmed down again. He took in a deep breath, and slowly let it out. This was their downtime. They shouldn't argue, just relax for a moment.
Once he was done with his breathing exercises, which the puzzled Zim observed, he thought to himself how much easier all this had been when he was younger and had more energy to use on Zim.
"But if that is so hard for you to understand, then okay, forget it!" There was still some irritation in his voice, but that was more out of annoyance than outright malice. He was calm now. Well, as calm as he could be around Zim.
"Then I guess all I can say is...I'm sorry."
Zim who had previously listened on dismissively, suddenly tensed up, and his antennas went straight in the air, and he looked at the human with an expression that resembled embarrassment. He kept gazing at Dib, who stared at the floor as he had enough dignity to not want to look at Zim's satisfied grin. Dib waited for him to start gloating, but instead, there was nothing but silence. He started getting worried when he heard Zim speak up.
"Maybe, I too am...ugh...somewhat, not entirely or completely, uhm...satisfied with how I have acted towards you, Dib-stink." Once he had finished, Zim could swear his throat was bleeding from having to utter those words.
This time it was Dib's turn to look slightly embarrassed, as he lifted his head and gazed at the alien, who looked away, in the same manner, Dib had done just before. He could hardly fathom that Zim had just apologized to him. In his own extremely forced and painful manner. For some reason, Dib couldn't help but blush, as he looked at the embarrassed Zim. A warm feeling started crawling up from his stomach and spread throughout his chest. Having to deal with Zim was still the most difficult part of his life. But it wasn't all terrible. Sometimes, it was nice. Sometimes, Zim was nice. In his own, annoying way.
"You're saying you're sorry?" Dib asked, with a mocking smirk on his face, as he leaned over to Zim.
"Don't push it, human!" Zim shot back, followed by an angry look. Which didn't do anything but make Dib chuckle.
"Okay, that's fair enough. Tell me, do you wanna try that cake?"
From the corner of his eye, Dib saw Gir, who had been surprisingly quiet, light up as he looked from the duo over to the cake. Zim was a little hesitant, but he must have decided that it was better than staying on the floor.
"Fine. But if you start choking on it, I won't save you, earthworm."
"Deal."
With that, both of them stood up, and walked over and sat down around the table, with Gir barely able to contain his joy, as Dib cut out two pieces. With Zim of course arguing that Dib had gotten the larger piece. Dib then took a fork and started eating. He looked around the decorations and wondered if he should mention that a birthday party usually also requires gifts. But after considering the hell that might start, he decided to stay quiet. besides, Zim had done a good enough job. He deserved a little slack. As he continued eating the cake, he found it to be surprisingly delicious
"Mmm, It's actually not that bad! What's in it?"
"THERE'S CAKE IN IT!!!"
Dib looked at Gir with a slightly concerned look, which he turned over to Zim. He didn't seem to notice, so Dib just looked at the piece of cake still stuck to his fork. He looked at it for a while, before shrugging, and swallowing it in one bite.
"Ah well, I'm sure that's not important, right friend?"
"I'm not your friend, Dib-stink."
"Whatever you say, Space-boy."
"...Happy birthday, Dib."
Took over a week, but I finished it. Hope you didn't mind the wait too much. Now that's done, I can start with something I am especially excited about. You guessed it's *drumroll*....the prom idea! *confetti*
So stay tuned if you're excited about that. I can tell you one thing, I'm gonna have some fun with that one! Hope you will stick around for when it comes out. Have a good day!