Your Complex

Fandom: Invader Zim

Rating: T for now (later M)

By: Shadako

Part 1: Bad mornings.

Sometimes things go bad. Like, you have to go to highschool, miss the bus, then walk there in the pouring rain, kind of bad. That's what happened to me this morning. It's quite the usual for me, actually. I doubt there are thingslike good mornings in my life. It's okay, really. I'm used to it by now. But then there are mornings when things go really, really bad. Like, big bad school bully with no brain whatsoever just insulted you in the dumbest way possible. And you tell him to shove it, instead of running for your life.

Yeah, this is what happened only a couple of seconds ago. And right now said bully is standing in front of me, ready to bash my head in. This is not really the way I'd like to spend my lunch break. But sadly no one is interested in what I want, as usual. I just sigh tiredly, ready to get this over and done with, so I can go back to learning algebra. Not that I would need to, anyways. My grades are good enough for my taste, but if genius father wants me to be even better than good. Well, I'm getting a bit carried away here, back to the situation at hand. Bully guy is waiting for me to respond. And I have no idea what he said, since I was busy listening to my own messed up mind.

So I guess I can just as well get up, show him the finger and walk out of the cafeteria. That way he doesn't have much of a choice but to follow me. Once he's done staring stupidly after me, of course. Guess that idiot isn't used to his victims just walking away. Yeah, most people also don't share my-... what did Gaz call it? Suicidal tendencies? I guess that was it.

He isn't coming after me right away when I enter the deserted hallway, good. Getting beaten up outside of the school is much less trouble, let me tell you. Last time Igot detention when that idiot decided to bash my forehead against some lunch table. Life isn't fair, really. But I guess there isn't much I can do to change that. Like I said, sometimes things just go bad, no matter if we want them to or not.

By now I'm standing in the still heavy rain. No one is outside right now, worst weather ever and all that. So at least that stupid mass of muscle won't have a nice little audience to cheer him on. It takes the rain 25 seconds to drench my clothes completely. And it takes the bully another 15 seconds before the doors of the building behind me swing open. He's getting slower. Maybe I should actually try to get away next time. Not that it would change much, since he would get me the next day anyways. I don't move, just stand there on the soaking wet grass and stare at the dark thunderclouds. I could get used to this kind of weather. It suits my mood, I guess. Behind me that monkey Torque is approaching, readying his fist to bury it in my stomach. I close my eyes and turn around. Might as well face that guy if he's going through all the trouble to come outside, just to break some of my bones. His face is contorted into some ugly grimace. He certainly didn't become any better looking since grade school. Quite the contrary, actually. But he did get a whole lot of muscle, being in the football team and all. So this will most likely hurt. Good thing that I'm used to stuff like this by now as well.

"You actually think you can run away from me, ya little shit?" Now he's trying to scare me. Sorry buddy, but that stopped working quite a while ago. One fist threateningly hits his own open palm, itching to beat something up.

"Does it look to you like I'm running, smart guy?" His ugly brow twitches in irritation. Now he's pissed off. Really, really pissed off. Maybe I shouldn't push my luck this much. But now it's too late for that anyway.

"You should learn to keep your mouth shut for once, you little fucker!" Ah, right. That's just the conclusion I came to a minute ago. I'll keep it in mind for later. Or at least I will try to. My mouth tends to be faster than my brain in situations like these.

"Really now? Thanks for the lovely advice, dumb fuck." Oh. That was not what I wanted to say. But somehow my brain decided that, yes, it's what I would say. See what I mean? Mouth doesn't care about brain. Sadly, because this probably only made the beating worse. Now I gotta pay the price for my own stupidity.

A sick cracking noise and the metallic taste of blood. Ah, that's new. Usually he doesn't hit me in the face. People could see, you know? Most of the time it's just a few good punches in the stomach or kicks to the ribs or something. Well, guess today's just my lucky day. Now I have to explain a broken nose to my homeroom teacher next period. I hope that oaf at least missed my glasses. Replacing these again would be a pain.

When the fog clouding my mind after the blow clears a bit, I'm alone again. Looks like Torque doesn't want to risk getting caught. Good for me. With one sleeve I wipe some of the blood away, staring at my now soiled trench coat with distaste. Now this is gross. Also, bloodstains are damn hard to wash out again. Another tired sigh.

Alright, so I got that part of my lovely everyday life over and done with for now. Next step, going to the nurses office. Usually I skip that and just head back to whatever period I have next, but today I'm bleeding like hell. And I think I'm going to be sick if I don't get any painkillers into my system. Damn, that really hurts. Plus, I can tell I'm going to get a terrible headache from this. I should have stayed in bed this morning, would have saved me a lot of trouble. Glaring at the bloody coat sleeve, I turn around and leave the rain soaked schoolyard. I can't even describe much this place sucks.

Half an hour later I'm sitting in the school nurses office. Said lanky woman is currently busy cleaning away the mess I made. She really needed a lot of cotton to wipe up all the blood, and now I feel lightheaded. But she gave me something to make me feel comfortably numb, so it's ok, I guess. Not my worst day of school. And not the worst kind of injury this woman had to stitch up for me. She breaths deeply once she's done washing her hands, pushing her brown curls behind one ear. Now comes the part I hate the most.

"Alright, Dib, guess we are done here. You can head home for today, if you'd like." With those words she's turning around to leave. Huh? No long and annoying speech today on how I need to see a teacher or the police or anything? Now, that's also new. I get up, grab my bag and leave the room. Looks like she is fed up with me as well, but it doesn't really make a difference, does it? No one cares about me, so why should she try to help me? It's a waste of time anyway. There's no one out there who could ever fix me. Believe me, my father had people try. And he paid them good money, too.

My bag in hand, wet clothes and trench coat, bloodstained t-shirt and all, I walk to my next class. Nothing I haven't done before. There is no use in going home, my sister would only get the laugh of the week seeing me like this. So why not keep my lovely classmates some company? Walking around like a mass murderer after slaying his latest victim. They all think I'm crazy anyway, so why not prove them right for a bit? Should they think what they want, I really don't care anymore. And thanks to the nice pills I just swallowed, I feel relatively decent. Well, at least going to see the nurse was good for something.

When I enter the room I can tell that everybody is staring at me. Gossip of the day, I guess. I don't really pay attention to the other teenagers, just slump down in my seat in the last row. Wet bag tossed onto the ground, head resting comfortably on my arms. Not a good idea, now that I think about it. The fresh band-aid over my nose is the only dry thing on my body, after all. But who cares, really. Might as well change it once I get home. I have more than enough experience in patching myself up. Constantly getting bullied pays, you know? Teaches you some wicked survival skills. If there is a zombie apocalypse someday, they will come in handy. But for now all I really need is a nap.

Just when I'm about to drift off into sweet sleep, or unconsciousness, not sure which, an annoying finger pokes my shoulder. Oh god, not now. Can't I have at least ten minutes to myself? Apparently not, since the poking continues. I groan, annoyed, but turn my head to the side to look at him anyways.

Some people are just a pain in the ass. Like my little demon sister. Some people are just horribly annoying, like my classmates. Some people are violent, stupid idiots, like Torque. All of them making my live living hell, but I can deal with them. No big problem. Nothing I couldn't ignore, or painkillers can't take care of. But then there is he. No way in hell could I ever ignore him. Believe me, I tried. It doesn't work. I also tried to strangle him, doesn't work either. Next was trying to make his house explode, didn't work at all. So some months ago I ran out of new plans. I just accepted the fact that he seems to be the bane of my existence and I can't get rid of him, ever. He's the one who fucked up my life the most, this horrible, green, annoying, alien menace. And right now he is seriously granting on my nerves with this stupid poking.

"Hey, Dib-beast, are you dead yet? If you are, can I use your organs for my new doom device?" Ugh. Seriously? How he could convince everybody that he's a normal human being is beyond me. You only need to talk to him for two minutes and its clear as freaking crystal that he is some weird, twisted alien. But no, people don't see that. They rather spend their time with calling me insane. Oh isn't life just unfair? I sigh but answer him anyways. He is, after all, the only person who really talks to me once in a while. I'm pathetic, aren't I?

"No, Zim. I'm not dead. And no, you can't use my organs for whatever. Get lost." After that I close my eyes again, but the irken doesn't leave. Instead he's sitting down on the table I'm currently lying on.

"That thing on your face looks rather stupid, you know?" Isn't he just wonderful company? Always there to rub some more salt in my fresh wounds. And it's not a thing,it's a big ugly band-aid.

"Yeah, thanks." I wonder how long it will take him to realize that he won't get any decent answers from me today. The alien takes a seat on the edge of my desk, staring off into the classroom.

"I don't get it, really." Well, that is nothing new here. I would roll my eyes if moving any part of my face wouldn't make me nauseous.

"You don't get a lotof things, Zim." He's standing next to me with crossed arms, now glaring down at me. Maybe I should stop pissing everybody off who comes within arms reach of me? That could help improve my none existing social life, maybe. But then again, people suck. So why bother?

"Why don't you just poison him or blow him up or something? It would be so easy." Looks like the alien decided to ignore my bitchy remark for now. I raise my head a little to see who he's pointing at. Torque, of course. Oh I want to, believe me. Him and a lot of other people, actually. But that would go against my morals and what not. For whatever reason I still have those.

"Because it's illegal, you know? And knowing my luck I would accidentally blow myself up…" A devilish grin spreads on his features at that. Yeah, suits him to like the idea. But he goes back to the topic at hand pretty fast.

"You humans are so pathetic." Now that is my favorite thing to talk about, defending people who hate my guts and deem me insane.

"I know." Yeah, I really do. Maybe I lost some of my enthusiasm to defend the honor of mankind over the years. But at least this saves me from a lot of bite marks and scratches. I recently found out that Zim is much less violent if you just agree with him.

"Then why are you still fighting to defend them? That's stupid." I shrug, then I go back to resting my head on my wet clothing. Damn, it starts to get cold in here. I should have gone home like the nurse said. But I don't feel like facing my sister or father right now, so what choice do I have? Might as well sit here and catch a cold. That way I can at least get a few days off of school next week.

"Tsk, whatever. You are boring, Dib-worm. Zim is leaving now." Leaving, huh? When we are supposed to prepare for the period, starting in a few minutes? Well, it's not like he really needs to attend this stupid high school, anyways. He just does it, whatever reason. Maybe because he's bored or whatnot.

He jumps down from the table, causing it to rock against my already sore face. Now that feels wonderful. I think the painkillers are wearing off. Why is everything today so freaking awful? I glare daggers at the aliens back while he's walking away. And just when he makes his way out of the classroom I remember something. The rain. Now that is something I would like to watch! So I get up on shaky legs, the room suddenly spinning a bit. Woah, maybe I lost more blood than I thought? Must be it. It'll go away on it's own, hopefully.

"Hey, wait up, spaceboy!" I follow him into the hall just before the bell rings. Guess our teacher is late anyways, so why not skip class? I can always just tell them I was sick or something, if somebody actually cares to ask where I've been. Wouldn't even be a lie. The nurse told me to leave anyways.

Walking next to the arrogant alien, I rub my aching temple. Damn, why does this pill have to wear off so soon? The hallway around us is empty, aside from a few students also not in the mood for lessons.

"Why are you following me, earth monkey?" I shrug at his question. "Have nothing better to do." It looks like he accepts this as a good enough answer, so we keep walking. Once we reach the front doors and step outside, we're greeted by icy autumn wind, and no rain. The sky is black, huge clouds still hiding the sun, but no rain right now. So I can't even watch the annoying alien suffer? Everything is against me today, isn't it? I sigh again, dragging myself down the stairs behind Zim. I have no idea where we are even going, but I don't care, really. What I do care for, however, is the fact that I'm freezing out here. When the hell did it get so cold? Guess it's because of the wet clothing, doesn't mix well with wind. Normally I like autumn, but right now it's just a pain in the butt.

While I'm busy complaining in my mind, Zim retrieves some stupid alien device from his PAK, toying with its various buttons. Curious as ever I muster the thing.

"What's it supposed to do?" He shrugs, then hands said device to me. "Blow up this smelly rock full of dirt, but it doesn't work." I take the 'doom device' thing and examine it for a bit. Looks like some kind of fancy remote.

"Maybe you should stop trying to blow up earth?" I suggested that before, he didn't agree.

"Never."See, told you. I manage to open up the back of the doom remote, finding it empty. He should have put some batteries in there probably. Not that I'll tell him that, of course. I grin to myself, handing the little device back to him.

"Too bad it didn't work." He just grumbles something, than tosses the remote into the next trashcan. It shatters on impact with the wet metal.

"Whatever. The next one will!" Confident as ever, now isn't he. "Sure. Keep trying." He doesn't reply to that, instead he's giving me a strange look. I raise my eyebrow. "What?" The invader gets closer to me, examining my face.

"You look pale like this dirt child in P.E. who threw up all over the teacher drone last week." I do? Well, how would I know? I can't really see my own face. But I certainly feel like getting sick. And my vision started to sway a bit some minutes ago. I figured it was because of the messed up glasses, but maybe the blood loss or the splitting headache is the reason. Could be both. I shrug at him. "So, why do you care?" Now he's giving me this typical Zim look.

"I don't. But it's rather amusing." That's what I thought. I roll my eyes at him. "Ah, whatever, might as well head home, since your stupid device didn't work anyways."

With that said I turn around, a bit too fast I think, because my legs seem to disagree with my choice of movement. They rather chose to stop working right now. Oh the freaking joy. Can this day even get any worse? With one hand on the dirty wall of some stupid building, I support my body. Falling down right now would certainly hurt, and I would like to avoid more pain if possible. But, again, my body doesn't go along with my wish, it still wants to stop walking and collapse on itself. Just peachy, isn't it?

"Fuck." That sums it up pretty much. I close my eyes tightly, trying hard to will away the dizziness and the headache. It doesn't work, at all.

"Are you sure that you are notdying? You certainly look like it." Why can't Zim keep his mouth shut for once? Damn, he's so annoying. I'm slowly but steadily losing the battle against my body. With a pained groan I lean against the dirty wall, trying to keep my head from exploding. I'm not sure if it works. But I am sure that I will pass out any moment. Now isn't that just wonderful. Well, as long as it makes the headache go away, I couldn't care less.

Right before my consciousness fades to black I can hear the alien's voice, talking to his stupid robot companion over some even stupider device attached to his wrist. "-I don't care for the tacos, GIR! Come here at once. It looks like we just got a new… volunteer for my latest research." Oh, I do not like where this is going. At all. God, this day just sucks...

When I come around there are a few things I notice pretty fast. First, I can't move my arms or my legs. Second, I am not somewhere in the city anymore, but in a strange, dark room. Third, I hate this alien with all the passion I can muster. So I pass out due to blood loss and he abducts me to his horrible underground lab to perform whatever kind of experiments on me? If that isn't the exact way I like to spend my afternoons. I try to figure out some more details of my current predicament, but my glasses are gone, leaving me half blind. I can make out the cold metal strapped around my wrists and midriff, however. So no chance to get out of here, now isn't that just great. I try to move my legs again, no use either. So I'm stuck down here. Nice.

Where is Zim, anyway? Isn't he supposed to stand next to me and gloat about his victory or whatnot? I try to make out the dimly lit room around me, all kinds of machinery and computers, but no alien menace. Everything is glowing in an eerie magenta light. This place just creeps me the fuck out. I try to struggle against my restrains, to no avail. A frustrated groan leaves my throat and I glare daggers at the wires on the ceiling. Alright, I hate it to be unable to move. Hate it like the damn plague. Just in that moment a low chuckle fills the room. So my captor decided to grace me with his presence. Lovely.

"You're only wasting your energy, Dib-thing. Those won't come off that easily." Oh really, now that's something I would have never figured out. Damn, I'm beyond pissed right now. To make matters worse, it looks like he is enjoying my struggle. Well, it's Zim. Of course he is enjoying it. Little bastard.

"Abducting me while I pass out? That's low, Zim. Even for you." He just shrugs it off, casually walking over to the metal table I'm strapped to. His steps echoing in the vast room of the lab. I can't even recall ever having been down here before. Just how many secret torture-, sorry, I mean research chambers does he have?

"Whatever necessary, as long as it brings the desired results." Oh how I want to strangle him right now.

"I figured as much. So, what do you want this time. You're still after my organs for your stupid doom whatever? Not like it would work either way." A malicious grin spreads on his features.

"Not quite. I didn't bring you down here just to cut you open, Dib-worm." Well, that's a good thing, isn't it? Unless he plans to do something worse with me, of course. What could be worse than getting your organs cut out? I don't think I really want to find out. But no one is giving me a choice, I guess.

"Well, then why am I here?" His clawed fingers grasp something that looks very sharp and metallic from a nearby counter. Could be something potentially deadly. Not like I can see it all that well. I really, really want my glasses back.

"You are here because Zim needs your... let's call it assistance, in a current research." That doesn't sound good, at all. I think I'm going to die down here. And the worst part, no one will even notice. Well, maybe Gaz, but she wont care one bit. Maybe she'll rent my room out to some friends of hers once she notices I'm not coming back. My life really sucks.

"What kind of research, you sick little insect?" Maybe calling him names isn't the best thing I could do while he's standing next to me with a scalpel in hand. Well, at least I'm guessing it is a scalpel.

"Aw, come on, earth worm. Don't complain all the time. I haven't even done anything, yet." Might be true, but his vicious grin speaks volumes about the things he willdo. Hell, if I could only move my hands. Like, what are those stupid bonds made off?

"Didn't I tell you to stop struggling?" I glare up at him. Or at least in his general direction. I'm not very intimidating while not seeing a thing.

"Fuck you." Yeah, very mature, Dib. Whatever, it's not like I never told him that before. But the last time I did, it resulted in him explaining to me that it wouldn't be a good idea to do things like that in a classroom. I swore to myself to never, ever bring this topic up again around him. Well, looks like I just broke my own rule.

Just when I think about some more insults I could throw at him, his gloved claw trails over the fabric of my shirt. Only now do I realize that my black trench coat is gone. And so is the stupid headache. All in all I do feel relatively good, if you leave out the strapped–down–to–a–table part. I blink a couple of times, trying to recall anything after passing out in the streets. My brain wont come up with anything at all.

"What did you do to me?" Good question. Last time I checked, I was busy being sick and unconscious, and now I'm all good. Not that I'm complaining, but I still want to know. Waking up in a room with Zim isn't something I would usually associate with feeling strangely okay all of a sudden. Did he drug me somehow? Wouldn't put it past him.

"Does feel better, doesn't it?" He's chuckling again, drawing slow circles with his claw on the front of my shirt. Okay, can he not touch me so much? I never got why he was always so physical. Well, mostly in a violent way, of course, but still.

"Strangely, yes. Question is, why would you of all people do something that actually benefitsme?" A light shrug is my answer.

"A dying test subject isn't really doing any good for my research. Zim needs you to be conscious for this to work, dirt worm." Sounds just like a typical Zim response. This alien is so full of himself, it's unbelievable. I groan in annoyance.

"Fine, so you brought me down here and strapped me down to research what, exactly?" His grin widens, then he's leaning in uncomfortably close. I hate it when people invade my personal space like this. Did I mention that I'm a very, very unsocial person? Well, I did now. I really, really am. Especially when it involves any kind of body contact. It's just something that usually ends with a great deal of pain for me, so wanting to avoid it is kinda natural.

"I'll show you." I do not like this grin. He's so close that I can make out his features even without my glasses. Not a second later he's stepping back to reveal a giant monitor to me. One of his hands swipes up something from a table at the side, placing it on my nose. My now still very much hurting nose, mind you. Apparently he only fixed the headache. Well, at least I can see again. My eyes adjust to the bright light of the monitor quickly.

How come I didn't notice that thing before? Well, whatever, I do not like what it's showing, not one bit. "Zim, no." My breath gets caught in my throat and I swallow nervously.

"Seriously, no." He's not very impressed by my protests, I can tell. With growing horror I stare at the diagram of the human bodys anatomy. So, I am his test subject for this? Oh no, no, no, no… Today really isn't my day. I should have stayed in bed. My heartbeat is speeding up and I can feel my palms begin to get sweaty. He can't be serious.

When, exactly, did my life start to go wrong like this? Missing the bus, getting beaten up by some idiot, freezing myself to death, losing consciousness due to blood loss and now getting abducted by an alien who is currently busy undressing me? I guess not even the best therapists would be able to fix me anymore. I guess my father wasted all his money in vain.

~~~tbc.

First chapter done! Now I'm proud of myself. Na, not really.

But I've been dying to get this idea out of my head.

Again, english isn't my first language, so sorry if it kinda sucks! I tried! :D

~Shad.