Dib fondly twisted the end of his scarf for a moment, admiring the pattern before letting it fall. Although his father was hardly around, he didn't mind much anymore. Just he and Gaz sitting alone in the house had become a familiar image over the years, though recently she'd distanced herself from him more than usual, but that didn't faze him either. Ah, the wonders of teenage euphoria that even managed to distract him from that loathsome alien, who still desired to conquer Earth despite failure after failure. Dib had to give him credit for persistence, but he couldn't believe the idiocy his own race possessed. Even after six years fighting to expose Zim, everyone else remained painfully oblivious to the alien right under their noses. Most days Dib was pretty down on his luck, but he tried hard not to let it get to him. An optimistic look on life was one of the few things he could do to keep himself happy.
Suddenly, he found himself being yanked hard by his scarf and crashed face-first into the snow. As he got over the initial shock, he heard shrieks of laughter around him. Yet again, he'd become a victim in a momentary lapse of vigilance. Highly displeased and embarrassed, he attempted to get up, only to be kicked back into the snow. If he attempted to stand again, he'd only be shoved back down. However, if he gave up, he'd freeze to death.
Across the field, Zim watched the display with an amused smirk. It satisfied him to watch Dib being harassed by others, though recently the satisfaction had nearly vanished completely. He wanted to be the one being mean to him, not other people. Pleasure from beating Dib should belong to him and him alone, he thought, clenching his fists. After all, the human would function as his personal slave when he conquered this putrid planet. He stomped over to the gathered crowd, his eyes burning with rage.
"Leave the Dib-human alone!" he spat.
The laughter ceased and the students parted to reveal a shivering Dib, his hands over his head.
"What's the big idea, green kid?" someone asked.
Zim stared at his nemesis, who cracked open one eye to watch him. "It is my duty to torment the Dib. No one else's, you hear me? None of you pathetic humans deserve to even be in the presence of the almighty Zim! Leave now, for none of you may harm him any more, for he belongs to me!"
The students grumbled their annoyance but began to disperse. Dib was finally able to stand, picking up his backpack and adjusting his glasses. He narrowed his eyes at the alien.
"Why did you help me?"
"Pfft, help? I would never help you."
"But you just-"
"Silence! I did what I did for me and me alone. Once I overcome this planet, you're coming with me as my slave; a prize, if you will. And I will not have my prize damaged by anyone but myself."
"Well… thanks anyway."
Zim seized ahold of the scarf and gave it a sharp tug, sending Dib hurtling back into the frozen snow. Glee washed over him and he performed and abrupt about-face, just about to start off in a triumphant march. However, when he took a step forward, his enemy's hand darted out and grasped his ankle, causing him to trip and faceplant just millimeters from the pavement. Instantly he looked up and around, hissing when he noticed Dib already on his feet and well on his way to the schoolbuilding.
"This isn't over Dib!" he roared.
He paused and looked back from the door, smiling. "No, it certainly isn't."