Disclaimer: I have no ownage of Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift, and the day I own Invader Zim is the day it comes back on air and finishes what it started.

This is my submission for Blackdragon-sama's contest on Deviantart: fav . me /d621dei (remove the spacing and add the http and all that)


Normalcy.

That's all Dib had ever wanted, but over time he began to succumb to the darkness, where the harsh voices crowded his mind and attempted to suffocate him, until a voice broke through all the rest.

"It'll be okay," it whispered in a soothing voice. "They can't hurt you."

It didn't take much for him to know that Zim was by his side, like he was every time he had a mental breakdown like this. He held on tightly to the irken, desperate for the darkness to fade.

"You can't leave me alone," he choked out, tears rolling down his cheeks.

It was something he always said, as if the Irken would someday leave him. After all, why wouldn't he? Society had deemed him insane, his father had never cared, and even Gaz had abandoned him, telling him to never call her again.

"Never," the Irken murmured. "Just close your eyes and relax. You're going to be okay."

"Don't leave me," he repeated.

"I won't let you go," Zim promised all while holding him tighter.

As the moments passed, Dib slowly began calming down, and once the Irken noticed this, he began speaking in a soft tone. Every time, Zim would tell him stories of the great Irken Armada, and of the battles he had fought in, and of the planets they had conquered. Strange as it was, his words were almost like a lullaby, and he soon found himself drifting off into an uneasy sleep.


Zim sighed in relief as the Dib-thing slowly calmed down and fell asleep. His large magenta eyes trailed all over the dimly lit room until they finally rested on the window where the sun was slowly setting. The color was orange, almost like the fire that had burned when him and the Dib had taken over the world. The war had gone on for so long, but they had triumphed!

They'd left a few select humans alive, the ones that would never dare to mock the Irken's mate. Humans made rather good slaves after all, and there was much work to be done to turn Earth into the perfect planet for them to raise their Smeetlings. Even though he'd wanted total domination of the world, after Dib begged him to leave the animals intact he agreed to leave some aspects of the Earth human. However, despite how much Zim despised the idea, the water had to stay too.

His attention was brought back to the sleeping Dib-thing sighing heavily. His expression was troubled, but Zim knew he wouldn't have any more episodes for the evening. Maybe a nightmare yes, but he wouldn't completely lose his mind.

Settling into a more comfortable position, Zim finally allowed himself to relax. By the time the morning came, Dib would be assured once more that they were safe, and that no more harm would ever come to him.

Despite everything that had happened between them throughout time, Zim was the only normal thing in Dib's world, and as much as the Irken hated to admit it, Dib was the constant in his life too.


I remember tears streamin down your face when I said I'll never let you go

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said don't leave me here alone

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning's light

You and I'll be

Safe and Sound

Don't you dare look out your window, darling everything's on fire

The war outside our door keeps raging on

Hold on to this lullaby

Even when the music's gone

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be

Safe and Sound

Just close your eyes

You'll be alright

Come morning light

You and I'll be

Safe and Sound