A Place to Call Home

Story By: inuyashacat13

Summary: After failing for years, The Tallest finally get bored of Zim's meek attempts and decide to take over the Earth for themselves, just for the entertainment. Zim, devastated, begins to question if he ever had a purpose. As for Dib, he's just trying to convince poor Zim, who's has been his longtime friend AND rival, that there's still a purpose for him out there. Like, oh I don't know, saving the world? ZADR. May become Mpreg (but I might just be messing with you xD)

Warning: Contains M/M, some angst, slight romance, drama, some bad words, some suggestive themes, etc.

Disclaimer: I don't own Invader Zim, if I did, I'd shove it down nickelodeon's throats until they finally decided to continue it :3

Prologue: Normalcy

A/N: So, it's been a while :3 stupid work, keeping me from writing Lol, yes, Gravitation to Invader Zim seems like a big change, but I can't help where my muse takes me =w= besides, I prefer non-canon love x3 I usually only like AU story's with canon couples(if you couldn't tell :P) I'm strange, I know, but canon couples get boring xD…Anyway! I love Invader Zim and I so glad to see them airing old episodes!(Now make new ones 8D) So yeah, watching it continuously for days made me want to write, and ACTUALLY, finish it this time :') Love for all who read this, and especially those who review, favorite, or watch!~

Zim blinked open his eyes irritably as Gir had decided to use his stomach as a dance pad. "GIR!" Zim yelled as he flung himself up, flinging Gir into the wall adjacent to him.

"Aww, I was just getting to the best part…" Gir mumbled sadly, as he slid down the wall.

"Best part of what?" Zim questioned as he stretched and brought himself up on his feet.

"The song…" Gir pouted, hanging his head down sadly before jumping up. "I'm going to go make WAFFLES!" Gir suddenly shouted, jumping onto a lift and flinging himself up to the kitchen. Zim stared blankly for a minute before sighing to himself and getting ready early for Skool.

Zim was almost ready when his computer began to go off, signaling an intruder. Zim glared, but didn't pay it any heed, he knew who the intruder was, the same one that came to his house every morning, nearly every day. Zim hurried putting his disguise for the day on before rushing up one of his strangely placed lifts and heading to his door. Dib's presence greeted him as he over-dramatically opened the door and stepped out onto his gnome-covered yard.

"One day I'll find out why you come here every morning!" Zim shouted, while pointing a finger furiously at Dib. Dib just rolled his eyes, and waited for Zim to stop shouting and come along already. They'd been going this routine nearly every day for the past couple years, none of them really knew when it started, and neither knew the reason it did, but nonetheless, Dib would meet Zim at his house every Skool day.

Zim glared at Dib's remark, before huffing and running to catch up with Dib, who had started walking in Skool's direction. "One day I'll find out your true intentions of these "before Skool meetings", Zim sneered as they began to walk side by side, though soon he stopped sneering, and began to chat with Dib as he always did, eventually letting his guard down completely.

As they reached Skool, a few kids waved to Dib, he was still an outcast, with little friends, but more humans seemed to like him since he got taller, better styled glasses, and more what they called "handsome." Yes, Dib had finally grown into that big head of his and surpassed Zim, who had grown the smallest bit, by a full head. Zim glared as he had to look up to talk to Dib. At least I'm still older then him, Zim thought gleefully, knowing he would always be years older then Dib, who was currently 17. Dib stopped waving at people once he noticed Zim glaring at him.

"What?" Dib asked, in a bored tone, really, Zim was always thinking he was still out to get him.

Zim's eyes widened in surprise by the fact he was caught glaring, he quickly decided to run yelling a loud, but quick, "I'll find your true intentions!" Dib sighed as Zim pushed people aside and slammed through the school doors. Really, Zim, haven't you changed at all? Dib thought, before sighing once more and walking up the now-covered-by-people stairs.

Dib hadn't really changed over the years, other than his appearance, though he was more practical now then Zim. Most of the time he didn't even consider Zim an enemy anymore, they'd been friends for years, even if Zim would never admit to it. Zim was stubborn with his constant delusions, not that Dib was bothered with that, as long as Zim didn't ACTUALLY take over the world. Which was very unlikely, Zim was smart, though not the best with fulfilling his plans.

Dib cursed himself as he heard yelling coming from his constant, for no apparent reason, teacher's room Ms. Bitters. "Get that acidic liquid of DOOM away from me!" Zim yelled as he jumped upon his desk, and glared daggers at a chubby kid with a water bottle. "Not drinks in my class!" Ms. Bitters yelled as Dib came in, turning away so he didn't have to see the un-lucky child fall through the floor to his doom.

"Dib! You were nearly late!" Ms. Bitters yelled as Dib slunk forward and sat beside Zim, who was still on his desk.

"Sorry, there were some kids blocking the stairs," Dib explained as seriously as he could, Ms. Bitters just hissed and turned to her chalkboard. Zim laughed quietly as he finally got back in his seat, "Foolish human," Zim chuckled, though Dib only rolled his eyes.

"You're the one who's foolish, making it completely obvious you're not from Earth," Dib said as he pretended to pay attention to the board up front.

"SILENCE!" Zim whispered as loudly as he could without the teacher hearing them.

Dib merely laughed, "Nice comeback, Alien," Dib whispered smugly, and resisted laughing as Zim glared, huffed, and looked away to keep himself quit.

Lunchtime arrived before too long, and Zim groaned at the lunch in the cafeteria. "Why don't you just make yourself lunch?" Dib asked Zim as he entered the cafeteria.

"How dare you try and surprise attack me!" Zim yelled as he immediately turned around to Dib.

Dib just stood with a perplexed face, "Zim, I wasn't trying to attack you…" Before he could finish Zim cut him off with a glare and went to sit down with his un-edible looking food. Dib sighed and followed Zim to their usual table, sitting down next to the alien.

"Enemies aren't allowed at my table…" Zim mumbled as he attempted to take a bite of his food.

"I always sit here."

"LIES!"

"But I do!"

"The Almighty Zim can distinguish lies from truth! And what I say is truth!"

"Ugh, Fine…"

"You're LYING!

"I'm agreeing with you…"

"…LIES!""

Dib sighed and started to leave the table when Zim threw something at his head. "Stupid Dib-Worm, I wasn't done talking to you," Zim scoffed as Dib raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "I, the great Zim, give you, a stupid human, permission to sit next to my presence, it makes me look better," Zim announced, with a very authoritative tone. Dib resisted the urge to laugh or smile, and quietly sat down next to Zim. Zim made a little "hmph" sound at Dib did, pretending as if he didn't care, because though he'd never admit it, to himself or anyone, he actually liked spending time with Dib.

Zim scowled and pretended to be pissed as Dib followed him home, though he never stopped him for some reason. Maybe he's put a probe into my brain to make me trust him! Zim thought paranoid as he analyzed Dib, who was staring into the clouds. Nah, Zim thought as he unconsciously walked closer to Dib so he wouldn't get left behind, I'm too ingenuous for him to get away with something like that. Dib briefly noticed Zim staring at him but decided to let it go, Zim would only end up yelling.

It was only a little ways to Dib's house, but they usually talked anyway. About nothing really, Dib would ask Zim things, and Zim would seem suspicious but answer anyway. Sometimes, rarely, Zim would show the slightest interest and ask Dib a question as well, though he'd never ask it without some kind of excuse, not that Dib really minded.

Zim motioned for his gnomes to back down as him and Dib entered his yard, however, as he'd explained to Dib before, it was only for his protection, Dib knew that wasn't actually true, even if Zim wanted to believe it was. Dealing with Zim could be tiresome at times with all his denial, though Dib hoped he let some of it go eventually, denial was never healthy.

Zim began to cough obnoxiously once he was in front of his door, causing Dib to come out of his thoughts. "Does my sworn enemy really think I'll let him in my house?" Zim questioned dramatically, as he folded his arms over his chest.

"I've been in your house plenty of times," Dib deadpanned back, honestly, he didn't know how Zim could be in denial about some of these things, he went to his house nearly every day!

"Lies!"

"…"

"Why are you not responding to ZIM!"

Dib yawned, bored of Zim's antics, and let himself in Zim's house. Zim built himself up to a reply, but let it go once her realized Zim was already halfway through his house.

"Hiiiiii, ZIMMMMM!" Gir yelled, waving happily and frantically as Zim entered his living room. Zim glared as he realized he was sitting on Dib's lap, watching TV. So much for loyalty, Zim thought to himself, before sitting next Dib and pushing Gir on the floor.

"GIR! You can't just cuddle up to an enemy like that!" Zim yelled as Gir looked up with his tounge sticking out the side of his mouth.

"But he's comfortable! You should try it too, Zim!" Gir announced happily, before rolling around on the floor. Zim nearly blushed at the thought before controlling himself and continuing to scold Gir. Dib merely laughed at the ridiculous thought, Zim went through enough denial about them being mere FRIENDS. Zim scowled as he heard Dib laughing

"What's so funny?" Zim yelled, only causing him to laugh more, oh, Zim was still too naive.

"Nothing," Dib exclaimed, covering his mouth to hide his laughter. Zim glared but didn't question him anymore. For a few minutes, they sat on Zim's couch in silence, until Zim got bored.

"I'm bored, let's go to your home, Dib-Worm," Zim suddenly announced with finality, heading for his door. Dib rolled his eyes, before getting up and heading for the door.

"Just no experimenting on my sister's pets this time!" Dib yelled as he followed Zim and closed the door behind him.

Zim cursed and threw the game controller he'd been holding at Dib, as Dib's character had won again. "You're cheating!" Zim yelled, crossing his arms and turning his head. Dib sighed, and rubbed his probably-now-bruised arm.

"How can I cheat? There's only four buttons and an analog stick…"

"You have you're ways! You conniving human!"

"Zim, you kept holding the controller upside-down…"

"That's because you were holding it the opposite way!"

"We're supposed to hold it the same way…"

"There you go again with your LIESSS!"

Dib sighed and gave up, "Okay then, we'll switch controllers," Dib announced, taking Zim's and swapping with his own. Zim seemed okay with this, until he saw how Dib was holding it.

"Turn you controller around!" Zim yelled as Dib looked at him blankly.

"But this is how it's suppose-" Dib started before Zim cut him off.

"Turn it around!" Zim yelled again. Dib sighed and turned his controller around, though somehow won anyway, causing Zim to get mad and toss his game system out his living room window. "I bet it was a robot-spy or something…" Zim mumbled as he headed to Dib's room, Dib laughed slightly to himself in return, Zim was just too strange sometimes.

Zim had fallen asleep on Dib's bed, saying it was too comfortable for Dib to waste it (probably because Zim didn't have a proper bed) so Dib decided to watch his favorite show, Mysterious Mysteries. Lately it'd been getting more accurate on the creatures it found, and Dib couldn't stop watching. Once it was finally ending Dib found himself wondering if the taco monster they found this time had really come from a taco infested planet, too bad it escaped…

"Dib," Dib suddenly heard from behind him, causing him to jump.

"Gah! Gaz! You scared me!" Dib scolded as he glared behind his couch at his sister.

"So, what are you doing out here anyway, where's that alien friend of yours?" Gaz asked, hoping to get her brother off the couch where she liked to play her brand new 'Game Slave Four'.

"Sleeping in my room," Dib stated, turning back to the TV. Gaz laughed.

"What'd you do to wear him out so bad he fell asleep on your bed?" Gaz asked, her tone implying something that made Dib blush.

"Gaz!" Dib yelled at his sister, "That's gross! He's an ALIEN and a GUY!" Gaz only laughed in a response, mocking her brother's words.

"So? You're strange enough to hook up with someone just as strange as you…" Gaz started before getting cut off.

"Hook up?" Dib questioned.

"Like he'd stay around if he got with you!" Gaz scorned with a laugh, making Dib glare.

"Zim's not like tha- hey! Don't trick me into saying stupid things!" Dib yelled at Gaz who had already started her game.

"Well it's not that hard," Gaz joked to herself before putting in her headphones.

"HEY!" Dib yelled, after being ignored. Gaz only continued to ignore him.

Zim slept for hours, Dib's bed was just so comfortable, but when he opened his eyes it was still dark, and he was still tired. Zim looked around for Dib but didn't see him anywhere, until he looked on the floor. Foolish human, Zim thought, considering if he should help Dib or not, finally, Zim sighed. Spider-like limbs suddenly sprouted from the pak on his back and picked up Dib from the floor, laying him down as gently as Zim could let himself onto the other side of Dib's bed.

Although Dib was sleeping, Zim didn't want to be caught completely vulnerable, but instead of leaving, he simply called Gir. "Gir, get over here!" Zim whispered into a device on his wrist.

"Okey Dokey!" Gir exclaimed with a salute, not a second later he was at Dib's window waving.

"How'd you get here so fast?" Zim questioned as he got up to let Gir in.

"I was dancing in Dib's bushes!" Gir replied with a smile. Zim wanted to respond, but just couldn't, Gir was just too…stupid? He didn't know… Shaking his head, Zim crawled back into Dib's bed, letting Gir crawl in-between them.

"I like this," Gir announced happily, wagging his fake-dog tail. Zim only sighed before telling Gir to shush and to remember to protect him. Once Zim fell asleep Gir decided to make Zim try cuddling and shoved him and Dib together. With that was accomplished, he smiled stupidly and laid down on top of both of them.

Dib never thought he would wake up in bed with Zim, but life's unpredictable. At least they had clothes on…Dib mentally slapped himself for that thought. Dib desperately wanted to wake Zim up, but Zim was kind of lying on his chest! Dib resisted the urge to blush and tried to pull Zim off, which only resulted in Zim grabbing around Dib's chest and burying his face into his shirt. Dib couldn't help it anymore and began to blush as the alien nuzzled into him, he swore he could feel his sanity slipping at the thought of the one and only ZIM cuddling into him, it was irony from laughing at the thought yesterday, he presumed.

Suddenly Dib's door slammed open, "Dib! That weird dog of Zim's made waffles!" Gaz announced as she entered Dib's room, stopping dead when she looked at Dib's bed. "Ew," Gaz announced, before going right back the way she came.

"W-wait! Gaz! It's NOT what it looks like!" Dib yelled as his door slammed shut again.

Gir smiled as he walked up to Dib's bed, "Aww, they're cuddling!" Gir yelled happily, closing his eyes and running around Dib's room.

Zim opened his eyes soon after Gir's comment, blinking a lot since he'd left his contacts in all night. Once his vision was less hazy he froze, before freaking out and falling off Dib's bed.

"GIR!" Zim yelled, causing Gir to stop his dancing.

"Yes, Masta'!"

"Why weren't you looking after my wellbeing?"

"I thought it'd do you good to CUDDLE!"

"GIR…"

"Yes!"

"Enemies DO NOT CUDDLE!"

"But you looked like you were enjoyi-"

"SILENCE!"

Zim shook his head and stood up, "Dib-Worm", he said in a formal parting-tone, walking slowly and calmly out of Dib's house before racing back to his own. Dib just stayed sitting dumbfounded on his bed. Had that really just happened? Dib sighed, thankfully it was Saturday, so he could catch up on the sleep he lost when he'd been on his floor last night. Dib closed his eyes and the image of Zim looking content flashed through his mind, he didn't think he'd even seen Zim so…calm… Dib sighed once more, and turned over on his bed, trying to cut off all thoughts and fall back asleep, but the image of Zim still stayed at the back of his mind.

END A/N: Wowww, I did NOT expect to write this much, haha, my muse can take me far. I NEVER write long prologues x3 I'm excited to be writing this story, yay!(though this prologue killed me, I hate introductions and most fillers) But it's currently 5am so I need to sleep, and write more tomorrow =w= There's not going to be too much romance in this, but it won't be non-existent or anything, I just prefer drama :3 I tried to keep everyone in character, since it's just the introduction but some things may differ later when other elements are added, but some things need to be changed for a story to progress, though no stupid over-lovey dovey or sex-craved or whatever, I don't like that, I prefer realistic personality changes that go with the plot =w= ok, I'm starting to ramble, Hope you all enjoyed this! More to come hopefully tomorrow or the next day! Oh, and I'm not really going to edit this too much until I'm finished so don't comment on every little mistake, I just haven't taken the time to edit yet =w= Reviews make my day! Favorites and Watches make me smile! Views are precious! And Constructive criticism is fine, if reasonable, but flames will be shunned! I love you all for reading this! :D

~Kitty