It's been a long, long time since I've written for IZ, but I wanted to give this idea a shot. So here goes- an Invader Zim Tokyo Ghoul au, with Zim "as" Kaneki. I considered using Dib instead, but it'd be more challenging to use Zim so that's who I'm going with.

Ch. 00: Prologue

From: Source unknown
To: Dib Membrane (mmothman11 )

Subject: None

ERROR12314 jafadfaefawefaskdfjae 1234999000000000000000000000000

+ . _ =

OVERRIDE

stop

It came back in flashes, subtle at first and grew with each relapse. The pain came in waves, recognition charging through wires and veins until a twitch overtook him. And then nothing. And then- And then- he looked on, over the carnage and debris, blue rays sweeping down from the crafts floating above him, suspended in the twilight sky. Their loud hum blocked all other noise he would otherwise have heard.

The blood on the ground- one boot stepped into a puddle. Familiar repulsion coursed through him- Zim would not approve. Zim relished in the destruction. Zim watched the fires in glee, zipper teeth shining in the face of such damage and screams. But here, he felt nothing save a building regret and an even deeper sense of isolation. Isolation. But he had Zim. And Zim had him. And together, they-

They-

The blood sloshed under his feet as he walked on wobbly, tired legs, every bruise and scratch burning. He stepped over mangled corpses without looking- perhaps they were alive- he wouldn't know. Zim wouldn't care. He stood over the prone boy, his scythe-like hair whipping from the winds above. Cracked glasses stayed over his nose. He checked for breath.

Such a thin, small boy. How could he have thought he stood a chance against the Brains? Against them? Foolish boy. Foolish stinkbeast. He scooped the child into his arms, its thin limbs dangling. And then- then-

Staring at the Dib's broken body, beams of red and blue crisscrossing above them, the last explosions setting off behind, something set in, like a heavy stone within the heart he no longer had. Likewise, a paperweight leaving and the sheaves of pages finally falling out. Magenta eyes stayed fixed on that pale face. His antennae fluttered. And Zim was him again. But he was no longer Zim. And Zim-

There was nothing left but Zim.

For a moment, a snap of a second, he had control. Tenn was screaming for Zim somewhere, calling out to him, imploring, pleading- but he walked on. Was this how Zim felt? So light, so weightless, so- there was no freedom. This pain was his and his alone. And somehow, Zim understood and somehow, Zim felt. And somehow, Zim belonged to him once more.

But he no longer cared. Not anymore. The Dib was heavy.

"Let's go home."

But where was home? His brain was too muddled to tell if the words had been Dib's or his own. Maybe they were Zim's. But he was Zim. And Zim was him. And together-

They-he-Zim- remembered.

From: Professor Membrane (membranehead . .inc)
To: Sizz Lorr (shloogorgh )

re: Subject: Zim

Mr. Lorr:

It is highly irregular for me to PERSONALLY respond to any inquiries. I am a very busy man and there is SCIENCE to be done on an hourly basis. To quell your fears, your nephew has escaped containment but it is unlikely he will survive on his own. The IRK is a VERY FICKLE virus, as I have explained countless times to more inferior minds (such as your own). You need not worry.

Carry on with your life as you would, fellow citizen. I hope this satisfies your inquiry.

Good day,

Professor Membrane
Membrane Inc. Real Science

Thanks for reading! And please let me know if this is interesting enough to continue. This fic won't be short.