Zim sighed as he heard the heavy steps of boots, followed by the click of the door closing.
It hadn't taken long for the bulky man to leave, less than half an hour after Dib left, actually.
He slowly stood from his spot behind the couch, antennae perked and alert.
Fortunately, he only sensed one other presence in the base, the Dib-sister, Gaz.
Zim wasn't completely comfortable with the other human, but he knew she wouldn't tell anyone or pick fights, so she was safe enough.
His antennae fell back, and he was met with the same unsure feeling he'd tried to avoid.
He… wasn't really happy about The Tallest calling him back.
He didn't know why, he should be the happiest Irken invader! They were taking him back.
He needed to be more grateful. Being with the stupid humans has made him soft and unloyal, this is the kind of behaviour he'd get deactivated for.
It was the kind of behaviour that was found in defectives.
And he wasn't defective. He wasn't.
Zim shook his head, debating matters like this was useless… He just needed to be more loyal.
He only had… how long until they were coming.
They didn't mention how long until they were arriving, only that they'd set the course.
Should he call them..? They wouldn't be annoyed right?
He intertwined his claws, tapping on the back of his hands.
An invader would need to know when their leaders would be there, so it should be fine..
Yeah, this is normal. They won't mind.
He took in a shallow breath, and tried to will his body to stop trembling.
"Computer, call the Tallest. " Zim commanded, though his voice lacked the fire and confidence it used to shine with.
There were no complaints as the screen in front of the small irken blared to life.
He stood straight, respectfully saluting as the Tallest appeared on the TV.
"My Tallest! " He greeted just a little too loudly, antennae stiffly perked.
They didn't reply verbally, just a slight nod. He hoped they weren't bothered.
"I couldn't help but notice you never listed a specific date for when you'd be arriving on Earth. " Zim half questioned, sheepishly smiling.
"Oh, yeah. " Tallest Purple admitted boredly, looking at his partner.
"We should be there in… '' Red paused, looking off to the side, presumably at one of the navigators.
"One of the planets' days. "
Zim froze.
A day.
Only a day?
"O-oh- Ok. Thank you my Tallest! " He saluted again, not quite knowing what to do or say. Wasn't one day a bit quick?
But… His Tallest were never wrong. This was for the best.
The call ended, the buzz of the TV fading into the background.
His squeedlyspooch churned with a sense of dread.
Why, why wasn't he happy? Why did this feel so wrong?
He growled, a sound of desperate, confused anger.
What was wrong with him? He shouldn't be doubting everything.
He was above this! He was Zim- Irks best invader..
He pulled on his shaken antennae with frustration.
Maybe Dib was right.
No- he can't be right.
He couldn't be.
Because if the human was right, he was wrong. Irkens were never wrong…
Unless they're defective.
He hastily, roughly shook his head, his thoughts swirling into the quiet fuzz of sounds.
He really, really needed to stop being so weak about everything.
Zim was an Invader. His job was to serve his empire, to invade.
That's what he was created to do.
So he will.
It felt like hours before Zim heard the door open, hours spent trying to distract or deafen his mind.
He scrambled back behind the couch, it wasn't a good spot- far from it, but it would do until he could find a better one.
He perked his antennae, it was Dib.
His shoulders relaxed slightly, before they tensed once more. Would he still be mad about last night?
He pushed aside the recalls of what the human had said that night. Focusing on the steps growing closer.
Should he get up? Confront him first?
It'd give him an upper hand if Dib came for a fight.
Going off the rough estimate, Zim slowly stood to face the human, trying his best at an annoyed expression.
He looked a bit surprised, but then looked to the side.
"..Look, Zim, I'm.. Sorry about… what I said last night. " Dib started awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Zim didn't reply, but his antennae flattened slightly, and his expression was a bit less fake.
The human sighed.
"Yeah, yeah okay. I'd be upset too, I didn't mean everything I said then. I was.. Just really… conflicted. " He gestured with his hands as he went on.
"I… You can't invade earth- please. " The word 'please' sounded strange from Dib, definitely not something Zim'd heard often.
"I have to. " The Irken hissed, stance tense.
"You don't- before, you said that fighting back was useless. But how would you know, has anyone ever tried? " He pushed.
"Of course not! It's a suicide mission to even argue against the Tallest. " He shook his head at the humans' crazy idea.
"But-"
"No! My soul purpose- the reason I was created, was to invade. And I'm going to do just that, there's no 'buts' or 'maybes' in the Irken empire, human. " Zim interrupted, his voice loathed with venom as he pointed an angry claw at Dib.
The human glared, seeming to not believe his words.
He growled, if he wanted to doubt his abilities, that would be his mistake.
Dib sighed after a few seconds.
"Fine. Whatever. Just… stay at my house for the meantime. " He pushed Zim's claw away as he spoke.
He squinted an eye in suspicion.
"... Why would I stay at your base? " The irken questioned, stepping back slightly.
He shrugged.
"Its..Safer? " He tried.
"... Fine. " Zim hesitantly agreed.
His antennae perked, and he grinned.
"That just means I'll have to bring GIR here. " He stepped towards the door.
Dib groaned, but didn't protest.
"Just- If he breaks anything I'm going to make you clean it up! " He called as the Irken began to put his disguise on.
"Uh huh. " Zim made a dismissive gesture at the human.
He stretched, before stepping out of the door.
The sun seemed more blinding than usual, but he'd have to deal with it.
For just one more day.
Then… he'd be back home.
The word home didn't seem right.. But it was the correct term. A place where he was made and 'raised'.
He shook off the thought as he walked down the sidewalk. It wasn't really important.
He'd focus on getting GIR first.