MERRY JINGLY!

I have here another Christmas story! I have an ending in mind but no middle but I do plan to make it a fast-past relationship story.

This is another lonely-edit one but I read it over a few times so hopefully I did good! XP

Enjoy!

It all happened so suddenly. One second there was a fully functional screen, showing Zim's almighty Tallest, but a second later the screen became the exact opposite. Now it was a dysfunctional screen with no image of the Tallest at all. Giant chucks of machinery were now lodged into the giant screen. Dark, thick smoke mixed with tiny white sparks filled the room in an instant. In the middle of the room stood a heaving Irken.

The dreaded words infected Zim's head deeply and painfully.

Defect…

Failure…

Exile…Exile…Exile…

Zim's body was sore, over worked from hurling items three times his own size at a height three times higher than he was. The tiny alien huffed, his chest falling hard as he inhaled the computer smoke. His big, round eyes were vacant.

'They lied…' Zim thought violently. 'It was all a lie!' he screamed in his head. Zim's throat was dry and sore from yelling at his Tallest. His beloved Tallest.

Zim stood in the destroyed room for a very long time. He didn't know what to do. He felt so…useless. So hopeless. He had nothing going for him now…everything crumbled between his hands. How could he operate without a leader? A Tallest. Zim needed a Tallest!

Zim's PAK hummed loudly and viciously. Even Zim found the action peculiar. He turned his back a bit to examine the PAK then he erupted into a coughing fit. He needed to get out of there.

Zim ran out of the main room of his base and closed the door so no more smoke could get out. He stood in the hall feeling a bit dizzy. He couldn't believe that after all these filthy stinking human years his mission wasn't even supposed to be! Just luck, pure, dookey luck! Zim banged his fist on the metal wall then walked off to the elevator. His PAK still hummed loudly and as Zim waited for his elevator to bring him up to the main floor, images of the Dib flashed into his head. One by one by one. Zim wasn't even controlling these images but they kept bombarding his head. Zim tried to shake his head clear of the mental pictures but it was as if a fast-past slideshow was playing uncontrollably inside the Irken's head.

Zim staggered out of the elevator, his hand pressed against his head and a groan slip passed his lips. This had never happened to him before, the flashing images of Did wouldn't give up. Zim made his way to the couch and spotted Gir, who was mindlessly sitting on the couch watching a blank screen. When Gir saw Zim come in the living room he waved.

"HI MASTA!" the robot yelled stupidly. Zim ignored the greeting and leaned his other hand on the couch.

"Gir, put on your disguise, we are going for a walk." Zim said. He tried to think beyond the images flashing in his head. Gir hopped off the couch with a squeal. He loved their little walks. While Gir got ready, Zim sat on the couch for a minute. The pictures of Dib varied from his smile to his sneer. So many images of the human played in the Irken's head. Zim could still hear his PAK running on hyper-drive. His PAK must be playing his memory bank. A memory file created specifically for Dib but the reason for why it was running like this was unknown to Zim. Why would his PAK do this?

Gir attached his leash to himself and handed the other end to Zim. Zim took the leash and stood up to put on his disguise and his warm coat with his favourite vibrate pink scarf. Zim didn't know what he was going to do about his life on earth now. He began to feel alone and out of place for the first time.

They headed out the door, Zim locked it for once and stuffed the tiny piece of metal in his pocket. One of the coldest parts about what Zim's Tallest did was that Christmas was a few days away. Zim didn't care for the human holiday but it added to the pain.

It was very chilly out since the snow was covering everything, emitting its cold everywhere. Zim hated the snow but at night, with the yellow street lights on and the stars in the night sky, the snow looked so beautiful. Zim inhaled the icy air and his teeth chattered. They started down their little pathway then onto the side walk. Zim began to notice the images of Dib fade away, he sighed in relief. Gir thrashed about in the snow like a stupid dog-child, he loved the snow so much. It made Zim smile weakly.

'My Tallest…what is Zim to do…why did you leave Zim? Zim has been nothing but loyal to you! Zim worked hard for you my Tallest, so why!' Zim pleaded in his head. Gir laughed hysterically at the snow that started to slowly fall down onto the town.

Zim looked at all the warm houses with snow piled on top of them. Christmas lights glittered the roofs and reefs hung on almost every door. Most houses went all out, putting on giant blow up dolls of Santa and snowmen. They even put lights on the outside trees on their lawn.

"Gir, what is so special about this…'Kris..mass'?" Zim asked. After all these years Zim never got it. He tried to get it, tried to control everyone with it but there's a different meaning to it that he never got. Not like Gir could really get it either but Zim was tired of the silence and talking to himself.

"Everyone gets presents! From Santa! And! And! COOKIES!" he minion screamed happily. Zim winced but nodded nonetheless.

"That is it, all this foolish decorating for things from a fat man and…cookies…?" Zim said confused. It seemed like a lot of work in his opinion.

Gir giggled at his mater and Zim gave him his trademark look. "Christmas is when everyone spends time with family!" he chimed.

"And if they have no family…" Zim huffed.

"Then friends." Gir stopped walking to look at his master. Zim stopped right after.

"What?" Zim asked, kind of freaked out with Gir staring at him. Gir tilted his head. Then the images started to flash in Zim's head again and he groaned. "Maybe…we should visit the filthy Dib-human…" Zim mumbled.

"Yaaaaaay!" Gir squealed.

Dib sat comfortably on his bed. The Christmas break just started and Christmas itself was two days away. He had asked for a high-tech telescope since his other one broke. Dib wasn't into Christmas as much as he used to of course but it was nice. For once he could sit with his tiny family and eat happily. Even Gaz was in a better mood on Christmas. The one thing Dib didn't like about Christmas was that he had no friends to buy presents for. He bought stuff for his sister and father but that was it. No giant shopping sprees, Christmas lists or anything! He was the richest kid in the neighbourhood too!

Dib's music played loudly in his room as he laid there wondering what he should do. The thing about the break was that he had no homework, not like Dib was at all complaining but he didn't have anything to do. After about another minute of doing nothing, Dib decided to look up the recipe for gingerbread cookies. He figured that would be something fun, maybe Gaz would join him but she's not that happy on Christmas.

Zim was getting closer to the human's house and he began to feel uneasy. He couldn't grasp the reason for going there or the reason for his PAK acting up the way it was. Zim felt like curling into a ball and just dying but he willed himself to stay proud, like nothing has changed. It was so hard. Zim has never had to deal with any hardships before. And worst of all, he had no Tallest in mind…only Dib.

There it was. Dib Membrane's house. The name Dib was beginning to appeal to Zim, which freaked him out greatly. He stopped across the street from the house, and Girl looked ahead then to Zim but said nothing, just played with the snow on the ground.

'Zim needs a Tallest…I can't…I can't function right without a leader…' Zim groaned at the realization. He looked around the street and no one was around. Zim didn't even know the time when he heard a yell.

"I'll be back in a bit!" the voice said as they slammed the door.

Zim's eyes widened and the images stopped abruptly. The Dib human was leaving his house in a thin black coat with a white scarf, mittens and ear muffs on. The human's skin looked peachy against all the white. He looked peaceful.

Zim was about to turn around, head back to his base when Gir screamed "Hi big-headed boy!" and he waved like he did when Zim walked into the living room. Dib whipped his head in confusion and his eyes went wide as he spotted Zim, who was shushing and yanking at Gir's leash.

'Zim? What's that alien up to now?' Dib whined, He wasn't in the mood to deal with Zim right now. Not on Christmas. But Zim's urge to leave was apparent on the alien and that confused Dib a bit.

"Zim? What are you doing?" Dib said loudly then decided it was ok to walk up to the other.

Zim stepped back a bit, unsure if he should stay but something made him stay. "Urm…" Zim tried to speak but couldn't find any words to say so he just watched the human jog across the street.

Dib tilted his head. "Are you seriously walking your robot?" he asked sarcastically.

Zim nodded his head but said nothing. Dib was shocked at Zim's response. No yelling or 'curse you's. Dib stood there for a second and looked back to where he was going to go.

"Um, alright…I guess I'll just go...now…?" Dib said. It was beyond weird talking to Zim when he was so quiet and almost shy-looking. Again, Zim simply nodded. Gir screamed nonsense and Dib gave the 'dog' a funny look then he turned to leave but Zim stopped him with a pull of his sleeve.

Nothing was running through Zim's brain except Dib. Dib had to be the one. The new replacement. He wasn't Irken…but he was tall. Zim was at an all-time low now and he needed something, something tall. Dib was the closest to Zim than anyone; Dib had to be Zim's new Tallest.

Dib looked at Zim's tiny fist pulling at his coat sleeve than he stared up at the 'invader'.

"Be my Tallest, Dib." Zim said almost desperately.

Dib's expression was shocked and confused at the same time. "What?" he exclaimed. Wasn't his Tallest his leaders?

Zim pulled on Dib's sleeve harder. He looked into the human's eyes and pleaded without a word. Dib burrowed his eyebrows trying to read Zim's face for any tricks but the alien just looked like a beat up puppy. Dib swallowed.

"You want me to be your…Tallest…like your leader?" he asked. Zim nodded. "Does that mean you'll do as I say?" Dib questioned. Reluctantly, Zim nodded slowly and painfully. He dreaded what he got himself into.

Dib smiled wide. "So if I told you, you can't take over earth, you wouldn't?" he asked. Zim let go of Dib's sleeve and shook his head as in to say 'No I wouldn't'.

Dib raised his eyebrow again and asked "How do I know this isn't a trick?" Zim looked around then at Gir, who gave Zim no sign of any assistance. Zim cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Irkens need a leader to feel secure…they need a request, a mission, from someone else to run properly…Zim doesn't have that anymore. I…I don't know what to do with myself… so my PAK led me here, to you… I guess." Zim tried to explain. He figured that's what the flashes his PAK were sending him were about. Zim looked at Dib, who looked flabbergasted.

"What do you mean you don't have that anymore?" he asked. Zim didn't want to talk about it so he tried to avoid the question.

"Will you be my Tallest or not, Dib…I would choose someone else but I know you know me better than anyone else so I feel safer with you as my, um, leader…even though you'll send me into the authorities and I'll be used for horrible, terrible experiments and tests, then they'll dissect me, take my squeedily spooch, show it to all the humans of the world!" Zim ranted with worried frustration.

Dib listened to Zim's worries and fears and bit his bottom lip. He hadn't wanted to send Zim to the authorities in a while. Now he wanted to find out more about what happened and why Zim was doing this. Maybe Zim's PAK was overreacting? Dib was in a good mood because of Christmas, nothing could ruin it so if Zim wanted a Tallest then Dib could certainly provide the alien with that, the company would be nice, even if it's Zim.

"Hey, I'll be your Tallest already and I won't turn you in, ok?" Dib said to comfort the panicking alien. Zim looked at the human. "I haven't been into it lately anyways." The human shrugged.

What happened next was a throw off for Dib. He felt thin arms encircle his waist and a head press against his chest. Dib's face turned red immediately and his heart leapt out of his chest. Zim was hugging him!

Dib was speechless. This was evidence enough to believe that Zim wasn't lying or playing nasty tricks. But it was over before it really started, in a second Zim was back to his original spot and Gir was squealing again.

Zim cleared his throat again. "Zim is a bit emotional right now." the Irken admitted and didn't face the human he just hugged. Dib smiled awkwardly with his red face. He only hugged Zim once before and it felt odd unlike this one, it was quick but nice if only it lasted a bit longer. Dib assured himself that he just liked the warmth he got, nothing more.

"I was going to go the store quickly, did you want to wait at my house or come with me?" he asked, looking at Gir sitting on his own head.

Zim thought for a second. "Can Zim come…" he muttered, still shy from hugging the other. Dib nodded with a yeah and turned to cross the street, Zim and Gir following closely behind.

Zim felt better, much better actually. He had a Tallest, had to be Dib but the human seemed promising. Zim can already feel his old self resurfacing.

As Zim followed behind Dib, Dib wonder what was wrong with the other boy, surely the alien wasn't under Dib's complete control. The thought seemed surreal.

Dib looked to Zim, who looked ahead with a determined look on his face. "So um, does this mean you'll do whatever I say?" Dib asked curiously.

Zim looked at the human with a deadpanned face. "Silly human, you gave me your request, now I have to fulfill it." Zime explained.

Dib raised an eyebrow. "What exactly was my request?" he said suspiciously, he didn't remember making any requests…

"Was not taking over your filthy planet not a request?" Zim inquired. Dib made a big 'oh' noise.

"Riiight. So know you just have to not do that…" Dib said, unsure if he was really getting this.

"Yes, Zim still has his superiority and amazingness. I'm just…not an invader anymore…" he looked down and Gir whined for Zim. Dib gasped.

"NOT AN INVADER!" he yelled and took Zim by the shoulders. Zim yelped at the random action and sudden closeness of their faces. "Did your Tallests band you here or something!" Dib said with strange concern.

Dib hit the nail right on the head. Zim's head. The Irken began to shake, he closed his eyes and tried to make Dib let him go. Dib stayed put though as Zim looked away. Dib couldn't believe this!

"Oh my god…they did…" he whispered. Zim just looked to the ground and Dib did to. They stayed like that for a bit and Gir sat quietly for once.

Then something cracked in Dib's head. "Do you know what this means, Zim…" he said with a new found hope blossoming in his voice. Zim finally looked at Dib, the boy's eyes were almost sparkling.

"N-no, Zim does not..." Zim said hesitantly.

Dib smiled at the other. "It means we can be friends, get along a little more." He said softly and let go of Zim's shoulders and straightened his back. "That solves so many problems between us!" he said happily. "I mean you have to admit, we could make great friends…right?" Dib's voice was full of glee until he saw Zim's sad face. "Right…?" he said again.

Zim looked at the other's excited face, he never knew Dib had had such thoughts. He looked at the ground with a sad face though. "We are still very different Dib…I'm an alien and you're human…" he said.

Dib gave Zim a worried face. "Well, yeah but I'm your Tallest now so let's start over or something. I'm done with fighting, you should be too." Dib said as he reached out his hand to Zim. Zim looked at the human's hand then to the human's warm smile.

'Dear Tallest…Zim has found a new Tallest and Zim does not need you anymore.' Zim told himself and his Tallest.

Zim was ready for a change too; he had nothing to lose so Zim took the human's hand and gave the human a smirk. Gir sung happy songs as they walked to the store together, hand in hand.

Well would you look at that! ?They're holding hands already! See my point, fast-past!

So alittle explanation about the flashes of Dib in Zim's head...it was Zim's PAK's way of communictaing to Zim that Dib should be his new tallest, brainwash method kind of. Lol

Anyways, hope you liked it.