Author's Note: I do understand this fic is not of my usual style…Also, the whole thing can be read as one story, or chapters can be read as one-shots.
Yesteryear: Intention
"I…I don't understand!"
"I know, son; but you must trust me on this."
"Can't you just tell me what's wrong with me?" the bespectacled eyes of the teen looked almost panicked. "Please, Dad, I…I'm scared."
"Nothing is wrong with you son," the older man took the younger one's face in his hand, a gesture Dib did not ever remember him making. "You are just very different, Dib, very special. And I feel he can say it better than I can."
"Dad, come on! You want Zim to tell me? I'd much rather hear it from you—and wake up, Dad! Don't you know he's an—" Dib was unable to finish when he saw the most peculiar look on his father's face.
"I…I…I know, son."
Dib stared in disbelief. "You—You what? You know…?"
"I can't say I blame you for not giving your old man enough credit," Professor Membrane admitted, "I have always been more than mundane. But yes, I am indeed fairly versed in knowledge of the Irkens."
"But why? Why…Why would you hide that from me?" Dib's eyes began to burn, "Why would you act like I'm insane; like you could never possibly believe me?" He was shouting now. "Who really is the insane one?"
Never, in all his sixteen years of life, had the boy seen his father look ashamed. The world-renowned Professor Membrane never looked ashamed.
"I was wrong to say all of that," the professor admitted apologetically, "I just didn't know how to act in situation like this—"
"A situation like what? You won't tell me what's going on!" Dib fought back tears. "Dad, why am I sixteen and haven't grown in six years? How come all of my favorite foods are making me sick now? I wanna hear it from you!"
"I…don't know how to put it," his dad told him despondently, "But you'll be in good hands…"
"They're Zim's hands!" Dib allowed the tears to spill forth, "How could you, Dad?" So saying, he stormed out of the lab.
Professor Membrane had never considered himself a religious man, but now, he prayed his hardest that Dib would still call him "Dad" once this ordeal was over.