Dib stared at his rival, uncertainty in his eyes. He had been so sure, so certain at what he was, but now... he just didn't know.
He was an alien, nothing had happened to make Dib doubt that, but he wasn't...
He couldn't find the right word.
The day had started out so simple, so normal. He and Zim had met on the street, Zim followed by Gir, dressed in his green dog disguise, small arms filled with baggs of Tacos. He had smirked, threatening him, with the usual rehearsed words of reporting him to the media, words which felt more and more fake to him with every passing day, though he refused whole-heartedly to admit it. Zim had just sighed, shaking his head slightly, and continued past him. Dib stared at him, mouth still open mid rant, and turned back to Gir, who just shrugged sadly and ran after his Master. Dib had followed him, slightly suprised when no alarm went of at his entry to the home.
He should have been more concerned, he knew that, but there was nothing he could have done, nothing that would have prepared him.
He had no idea Zim was defective.
The call had been a complete shock to him.
The giant screen had lit up, two tall Irkens appearing, eating doughnuts. The one that called himself Red, he had been the one.
Dib never thought he would see Zim cry.
Red shouted at him, verbally abusing him, using everything he could to inflict mental harm on the small Irken. Zim had just stood there, taking it all in, his earth disguise still on.
Dib didn't know what to think.
When Red yelled that Zim's mission was a lie, Dib could only watch.
When he forbaid him from returning to his home, threatening to kill him is he did, Dib was speechless.
But it was when he had threatened to destroy him, that Zim had reacted, begging, pleading with him to reconsider, using up the last of his pride he had, that Dib cried.
He felt like dying.
There was laughter vibrating the walls, before the screen blanked, and Zim allowed himself to fall.
Dropping to his knees, he cried. His tears leaving light burn marks on his cheeks, whick smoked slightly, but he didn't seem to notice.
He cried and cried.
And didn't make a sound.
Gir walked up to him slowly, blue eyes showing a deeper intelligence then Dib thought his to posess, and hugged him, rubbing small circles on his back. Dib's tears continued to fall, but he didn't know why.
No.
That was wrong.
He knew why. Why it hurt him so much to see Zim in pain.
But he couldn't say it.
Instead, he straightened, and walked quietly over to the shaking Irken, until he was right behind him. Gir looked up at him, nodded slightly, and pulled away from Zim gently.
Dib did the only thing he could do.
He hugged him.
Zim stopped crying.
He looked at him, true fear in his eyes, and Dib hugged him tighter, hiding his face in his shirt.
But it was when Zim felt something wet drip onto his shirt, he finally broke. He finally let it all out. All the pain, all the anger. The bretrayal, and anguish. He could let it all go. And he did. He let his guard down. Let his wig slip off and contacts fall out. If he was going to be weak, he was going to be himself.
But, no. He wasn't really weak, was he.
And as Dib held the crying Irken, comforting him and whispering kindly, he realized what he was searching for. What Zim was.
Abandoned.
And so was he.
But not anymore.
He wouldn't let anyone hurt them again.
And secretly, Zim agreed.
