Chapter 2
Dib didn't give Zim an answer right away. He said he would think about it and in the meantime, told the Irken he better not start working on the machine until Dib gave full consent, which Zim reluctantly agreed. Dib had locked himself in the bedroom to really think about the situation.
Dib felt like he should really ponder what Zim was suggesting. They would be having a child through a cloning device. Dib shuddered as the word 'clone' danced around in his head. He pinched his arm and before he could do anything drastic to his body, he held himself tightly to calm. Dib was a clone, an experiment created by a man who he addressed as his father, though the Professor wasn't much of a father. If he agreed to Zim's little machine, then his child would be cloned, just like he was. This thought gave Dib anxiety. He didn't want to be like his father. He never wanted to be like his father! He certainly didn't want his kid to be going through an existential crisis after finding out they are a clone! Dib held himself tighter. He still had moments were he felt like a ghost, unreal, artificial, fake. Usually he would be pinching at his skin and pulling his hair out, then he would have a panic attack. But now, he had gotten a little better at handling those moments, and found that hugging himself seemed to ease his mind, as if he was confirming that he was in fact real. Dib looked to the floor, despite the fact that the child would be cloned, when he really thought about it, the child would be theirs! He and Zim! Both of them combined into one being! Dib couldn't help but think how amazing that would be. When he thought about it more, about what Zim asked earlier. Would he rather have a stranger's child or his own? Well, Dib would rather have his own child in a heartbeat, and if cloning was the only way to get it then, so be it.
Zim couldn't help but feel concerned. He hated when Dib locked himself in their room like that, it made Zim feel uneasy. He started to worry that he somehow upset the human with his plan, Zim understood that Dib said he was just going to think about it but- what if that was just a lie? The irken went over to the door and knocked "Have you thought about it!?" He called. Dib let out a startled "Jesus christ!" The knocking forcing him out of his thoughts "uh...yeah..just give me a minute" he took a breath. Everything will be okay. Cloned child or not, he will not become his father. Everything will be okay. The young man walked over and slowly opened the door, being greeted by Zim who stood below him, arms crossed. Dib went over to the couch, Zim following close behind. He sat, immediately taking the Irken's small hand and squeezing it gently "I thought about it" Dib began "And...at first, I was scared because the child would have to be cloned and the last thing I want to do is become my father. I refuse to bring a child into this world if it meant I have to be like my Dad" Zim felt bad about suggesting the device now, even though cloning was necessary, he knew how Dib felt on the subject "Dib-" the alien stuttered "Z-Zim is sorry..Zim shouldn't have suggest-"
"I'm not finished"
the Irken's antennae perked up in confusion but he let Dib continue. "And then I realized" the human explained "That even though, the child will be cloned...that doesn't mean I'm like my father right?" He looked at the Irken "I mean- as long as I don't..do the things my father did to me, everything will be okay right?" Zim didn't know if Dib actually wanted him to answer but he gave a little nod anyway. Dib smiled softly "And So, I now give you permission to do whatever you have to do, build whatever you have to build, so that we can have our child together" he kissed the irken's gloved hand. Zim smiled at the affection, relieved that Dib wasn't upset and agreed to the plan. Zim, now full of confidence and determination, hopped off the couch and went over to the trash can that led down to the base lab. He had a lot of work to do.