Your Complex

Fandom: Invader Zim

Rating: M

By: Shadako

Part 3: A trap snapping shut.

"So, for how long are you going to ignore me?" I don't answer, just keep walking straight ahead. Only a few more steps till I reach the stairs to high school. Sadly, that means I will be stuck with him inside this awful building for the next few hours. Something I do not look forward to. I was really, really tempted to stay at home this morning. But my horrible sister has the early hours of school off. So, staying with Gaz, versus going to school. Yeah, I guess you can figure out what option won that contest. I regret my decision, however. Not slowing down when I enter the familiar hallways, I know he's still walking next to me. Casually. Like he always fucking does. Like absolutely nothing has happened yesterday and nothing has changed. I want to punch him so much.

But then again, that's probably what he wants. I'm not going to give the jerk the satisfaction of knowing he's riling me up this much. Other students also fill the halls, still a good ten minutes to first period. Walking up to my locker, I glare at anybody who dares to even glance my way. My fellow students look away quickly, shake their heads at me, or just step aside as far as they can.

Most people are smart enough not to fuck with me while the crazy alien is around. It's common knowledge that if you cross Zim, horrible things will happen. And no one will be able to blame him for it, either. Yet everyone knows it was him. People don't seem to care about how he pulls all his crazy crap off, they just accept the fact that he can. Accept it, and avoid him. Unless they are stupid. Well, especially stupid. Like that one jock who had the guts to point out that Zim looks pretty girly wearing nothing but magenta and pink. He was gone for like, eight weeks after that. No one knows where to, since he hasn't spoken a single time about the incident. But he runs away screaming whenever the alien enters the same room now. And people always call me the crazy kid, tch.

I slam my locker shut with more force than necessary. Not even bothering with getting any books. Our physics lessons are pathetic, anyways. It's not like I need books to know the crap they try to teach us. A few heads turn my way. Probably surprised that I'm back in school already, after my whole face was bleeding yesterday. My nose still hurts like, a lot, by the way. But it isn't broken, I made sure to check before I dragged myself here this morning.

After I woke up in my room, with my stupid window open and no freaking clothes on. Gritting my teeth at the thought, I glance sideways. Sure enough, he's still there. Patiently waiting next to me while I was assaulting my poor locker. I give him a look that says 'go die' and he just smiles wickedly at me. I still don't talk to him.

A few minutes later I'm seated in the stupid physics lab and wait for our teacher to arrive. With a sigh Zim sits down on my table, like he always does. Not caring that he's shoving my stuff off in the process. Again, like always. He's leaning back, crossing his legs, one arm supporting him on the surface of my desk. For a moment I think about just pushing him the fuck down, but then again, he wants me to react that way. I just know he does. The sick little monster gets a kick out of seeing me snap. So I do nothing, just sit and glare.

"Oh come on, wormbaby. This is getting old. You can't ignore Zim forever." I know that I can't. Like I said, I tried. It's just impossible. He is too annoying for that. And too freaking dangerous. But god damn, I really don't want to talk to him. At all. Ever again. His fake lilac eyes are staring straight at me, free hand idly tracing the irken symbol on his uniform. A long sleeved one today, almost hiding the black gloves completely. Almost. And I realize in that very moment that I can't even look at his stupid gloves without blushing. That's right. Blushing. Really, brain? That's the best you can come up with after the crap he pulled not 24 hours ago? I want to die. Teenage hormones suck, big time.

"Don't tell me you are still mad about yesterday?" Yeah, of course I am. Getting sexually assaulted in some creepy underground lab is not my idea of fun times. So go figure that I'm mad. "Oh please, it was just a little bit of resea-" As soon as I hear his stupid voice say those words, I want to get up and strangle him. Before he can finish his sentence I interrupt him. I don't need Zim to remind me about it. Not. At. All.

"Shove it, alright? I hate you so fucking much..." He's smirking at my words, happy about his victory. He got me to talk, after all. Sadly. Well, I knew I couldn't avoid it for long. Still, I don't get him. How can he be so freaking casual after the shit he pulled last afternoon? Like, what's even wrong with him? I'm practically dying from embarrassment here, and he's totally fine with it. Like getting your worst enemy off in your secret alien lab is perfectly normal. Then again, this is Zim. I doubt he even understands the concept of feeling ashamed. Whatever. I'm so not thinking about that lab. Or what went down in it. It just never happened in the first place, period.

"I'm aware. Now stop sulking." He's still watching me, free hand coming up from his shirt to play with a strand of spiky fake hair instead. "It wasn't that bad, Dib - beast. Kinda funny, actually. To know that the great defender of humanity can be reduced to-" I grasp his wrist and slam it down on the table, hard. Not that it could actually injure him, alien bastard that he is.

"Don't. Fucking. Say. It." Message is pretty clear, I'm sure. Zim is blinking a few times, before shrugging. I let go of his hand. A few classmates are watching us now. Probably waiting for things to get violent. These idiots always hope for a fight. Perhaps because their own lives are too boring and they need something interesting to happen for once. Well, sorry to disappoint, assholes.

"Whatever, Dib-thing. No need to get so worked up. Certainly wasn't the worst I've done to you." He stays seated and calm, apparently not in the mood for fighting either. Well, he's right about it not being the worst, I guess. But then again, it was the first time he actually did something like that. I always just figured he'd dismiss everything remotely sexual as a gross human tradition. Like he does with most things. It never even crossed my mind that he could be interested in researching this stuff. Whatever the hell it was he even wanted to research in the first place. I didn't quite get that part. Surely it wasn't how to get a dude off. Or maybe it was. What. Ever. I am so not going to ask him about it. Never. I will just pretend it didn't happen and hope he stops talking about it.

"Fuck you." Yes, I'm back to being very talk active and social today. The irken jumps down from my desk, only to now lean on it with both forearms. Violet eyes dart over to the entering teacher with little interest. The rest of the class is still talking and laughing, sharing retarded videos on their phones and what not. No one really minds the middle aged man near the blackboard. Zim gives another over dramatic sigh, before answering. Not that I needed an answer. Or this answer, for that matter. "We've been through this before, human. A classroom would be a very inappropriate place for that. Well, even if online there are quite a few recordings of people doing-"

"Just go to your fucking seat." With those words I shove his arms off, getting him to finally leaving me the hell alone. Zim's still grinning, of course. He's enjoying making me uncomfortable way too much. Fuck this. I so can't wait for this day to be over. Burying my face in my arms sounds like a very good idea right now, so I do just that. Ignoring the burn when my injured nose is pressed into the fabric of my trench coat. I don't bother listening to our teacher who starts droning on about pocket dimensions and the possibility of gravitational pull in them. The hell has this crap even to do with physics? Sometimes I really wonder where they get the people who teach here.

It's twenty minutes into the lesson and I'm on the verge of falling asleep. With one hand I doodle some bad drawings of bigfoot into my notebook, the other holds my head up. Yeah, somehow it stopped staying upright on its own. Bored to death I glance at the rest of the classroom and my fellow classmates. Sleeping, drooling, texting or searching for treasure in their own nose. Lovely. The pinnacle of human superiority. It's times like this that I can understand why Zim feels superior to us. Not that I agree with him, I'm just saying I understand. Speaking of the devil. I take my chances and look over to him, hoping he doesn't notice. Luck seems to be on my side, for once. He's busy typing away on his strange alien device disguised as a smartphone. Magenta with a black irken symbol on the back, and some weird key chains. I can't help but roll my eyes. Sometimes I wonder if he even realizes how gay stuff like this makes him look. Then I remember that he's Zim and either doesn't understand or doesn't give a fuck.

"-and then there is the possibility of the additional gravitation to expand into black holes inside of the pocked dimensions, leading straight to the gates of hell. Hence we can assume-" -that this guy is talking bullshit and gets paid for it? Why am I even here. Taking a deep breath my eyes travel back to the alien next to me. At least from watching Zim I don't feel all my brain cells dying.

I can't help the tension in my body while I observe him. This bastard, not even paying the slightest bit of attention to me. Not that I want him to, but really, yesterday he seemed pretty damn interested in me. Or my body, for that matter. My cheeks heat up on their own just thinking about it and at the same time I feel my anger rise. Glaring holes into his head I take a moment too long to notice that his fake violet eyes are on me now. With a scowl etched onto my features I quickly turn away.

Great, now he caught me staring at him. Stupid alien probably gets the wrong idea from it. My fingers grip my pencil tighter, stabbing holes into my bigfoot drawings. A buzzing in my pocket distracts me from my brutal task a moment later. With little enthusiasm I pull my phone out, the boring teacher not likely to notice or care. My eyes widen for a moment when it's not the usual angry text from Gaz that flashes on my screen. Instead it displays 'unknown number'. Curious as ever I open it. Big mistake.

-What's the matter, human? Can't keep your filthy eyes away from ZIM?- Ugh. Okay, first, how did he get my number? Second, fuck him. Why would he even send me a stupid text? Hell, I didn't even know he has any idea how to. Guess the internet did wonders for the alien in using our technology and understanding human culture. Or whatever. I make sure he's looking at me before I show him the finger.

-What, feeling great because you have a few fingers more than Zim? Stoopid dirt worm.- Well, not even the internet can fix his grammar it seems. I roll my eyes at the trademark insult, dropping the phone to my desk. God knows why I don't just close the chat and block the number right then and there. Maybe I'm actually bored enough to read text messages from Zim. A new low in my life, I guess. Since I'm still mad at him for being his general awful self, I type a quick reply, just to piss him off.

-Not my fault your hands are weird, spaceboy.- A sharp intake of air to my left let's me know that he's read it. Tch, only someone like Zim would feel insulted by such a lame reply. With one hand I rummage through my backpack to find the bottle of coke I brought from home this morning. I need the caffeine, badly. After yesterday I guess this is all that's keeping me awake at all. I seriously feel like I could use a day or two more of nothing but sleep. Another soft buzz and I look down again. He's getting quick with his typing.

-Talking about the same hands that had you moaning like one of those females on pay TV yesterday?- A very undignified noise leaves my throat and I spit coke all over the drawings in my notebook. A loud coughing fit follows, because I think I just almost died. I try to breath again and not suffocate on cola while wiping my poor phone clean on my coat. That's the moment when I notice how silent it suddenly is. Looking up I also notice why. No one is talking anymore because they all stare at me. Yeah. I must look incredibly intelligent right now. I slowly lower the bottle I'm still holding in one hand onto the desk, place my phone back into my pocket with the other and proceed to wipe the drink from my notebook. See, this is why my classmates think I have a few screws loose. And who's fault is it?

The teacher coughs awkwardly and goes back to his black hole bullshit theory. My fellow students also slowly turn their attention back to sleeping or doodling or watching cat videos on youtube. My hands feel sticky and my face must be a lovely shade of scarlet by now. Ugh, why always me. A low hum in my pant pocket and I pull the black phone out again. Which is also sticky now. My glare almost melts the display, I swear. -Very impressive display of your superior intellect, Dib – thing.-

-Go. Die.- I shut my phone off after that and throw my notebook into the nearest thrash can. I always hated physics, anyways. And my drawing skills suck as well, so no harm done here. And my reputation? Yeah, not like I need to be worried about that anymore. But still, what the heck kind of message was that?! Since when is Zim even capable of comebacks like this? Damn, I was so not prepared. Nor do I want to hear, or read, shit like that. Annoying, awful alien menace. The rest of the lesson is spend glaring on my part and grinning smugly on his.

"That last message you've sent was really rude, you know, Dib - worm?" I shove books from the math lesson we just finished into my locker and slam it shut. Lunch break. Nothing I look forward to in school. It's either me being bothered by some retarded jocks like Torque or annoyed by Zim. Today its the latter, naturally. Because I so need to constantly see this good for nothing alien. And I so enjoy his presence, too. I couldn't be more freaking happy.

"That was the point." He shrugs my reply off, casually walking next to me towards the cafeteria. I ignore his annoying presence and head for the counter to get some food I probably wont eat either way. Until now I had successfully avoided talking to Zim, but during the break there's nothing much I can do to keep him away from me.

"Well, usually you don't talk to your friends like that, Dib – filth." Of course he's saying something like that while calling me filth in the same sentence. I roll my eyes behind my glasses and make my way over to an empty table in the back. Not even trying to guess what that stuff they serve today is.

"I don't talk with friends like that. Only with annoying idiots." Again my insult is ignored in favor of taking a seat opposite of mine. He places his tray down and pushes it to the side. Why he still bothers with even getting one in the first place is beyond me. He never eats any of this crap, ever. One of the very few things I can't even blame him for. It's probably poisonous for humans already, no idea what this slob would do to him.

"You shouldn't be so picky, human. Zim is the best thing you could get for a friend in this horrible establishment they call school." Maybe he's right about that, which is sad. And I wont admit it. Anyway, why would he even want me to consider him a friend? I hate his guts. Like, a lot. And his recent actions aren't likely to change that. At all.

"What part about 'I hate you, go die' didn't you get?" A shrug is his only answer and he reaches over to my tray to take the chocolate bar I placed there a minute ago. I don't even bother to stop him, he always does crap like that. To be honest, I don't bring sweets or desserts because I want to eat them. It's just so that Zim can steal them and be busy chewing and less annoying. Usually shuts him up for about five minutes or something.

"You say that, but you still spend most of your time with me. I bet you see Zim more often than your own sister unit." Again, he's right about that. And again I wont admit it. So what if I sometime along the years accepted the fact that I can't get rid of the alien and just tolerate his presence most of the time? It's not like I actually like him because of it. People just get used to stuff after a while, even if it's being around Zim. Again, sad. Very sad. Acknowledging this might be another low in my life. The second I reached today. Must be some kind of record.

"Whatever." A satisfied smirk settles on his features because he knows he's won. But what can I say? He is right, kind of. And I really don't feel like getting into another argument with him. These are pointless, to be honest. Very pointless.

"That's right, denying your attachment to my amazing self is of no use, dirt-worm." I roll my eyes while sipping at my strawberry milk. How can something that's so short compared to the average human have such a huge ego? I mean, he did grow unnaturally tall for an irken over the years, for whatever reason. But compared to most people he's still on the shorter side.

"If that's what you want to believe..." The alien nods enthusiastically while unpacking the chocolate in his hands. For a moment we sit in silence, him eating, me wondering what my life has become. At what point did I accept the fact that this weird monster from outer space is constantly around me? I can't even remember the exact time anymore. Over the years it just happened, I guess. So, logically speaking, Zim really is the closest thing to a friend I have.

"Hey, human. Will you ever stop glaring at Zim? It's kinda annoying, you know." Looks like he already finished his sweets. I avert my eyes, glaring at the tray in front of me instead. I hadn't even realized that I was staring at him yet again. Was busy with how pathetic my life is at this point in time.

"So are you, and I'm not complaining about that all the time either." He blinks his large eyes, pondering my words for a moment before he shrugs again. Apparently either not fazed by the insult or not getting it. Whatever it is, I don't mind. A buzzing sound distracts him from our conversation a second later. His weird makeshift phone thing is blinking and he is quick to type out a reply. So apparently I'm not the only one who he's sending messages to. Who would have guessed. I always figured I was the only person he interacted with on a regular basis here on earth. Everybody else being too dumb, according to him.

"Who's that?" Ugh, damn my stupid curiosity. Why did I even ask that? It's not like I care. Or maybe I do, but then it's not like I'd want him to know that. His fake eyes flicker up to me and a smirk spreads on his features. Why can't I keep my mouth shut for once?

"What's with that angry expression, Dib – beast?" He's waving his awful pink phone back and forth, having shut the display off again. "Don't tell me you're jealous?" I feel my left eye twitch while he's snickering. Oh how much I hate this alien bastard. One day I will poison the chocolate I bring to school, I swear.

"Don't worry, it's no one important. Just another one of my..." His eyes glint in that way that tells me he's up to something. Something bad, for everyone involved. "Test subjects, you could say." My eyes widen for a second and I can feel the muscles in my body tense.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Again my mouth is faster than my brain, and boy am I pissed. Don't tell me he's pulling this crap with other people as well? Just who does he think he is? It's one thing to torment me, but to involve others who know nothing about his true identity? How are normal humans supposed to defend themselves against an alien? And besides, it's my job to protect those idiots. I can't just let Zim do whatever the hell he wants. No. I won't allow him to fuck around with other humans. Not if I can help it, at least.

"Don't get so mad. I do have some research to do, you know? And with you being so uncooperative, I have to find somebody who's more willing." The nerve of him, to sit right in front of me and tell me stuff like that. Grinning all the while. Like I would allow him to use innocent bystanders as test subjects for his stupid schemes. I slam the milk I was holding onto the table and shove the tray to the side.

"And you think I'll just let that happen, spaceboy? I won't allow you to mess with people like that." He can tell from the tone of my voice that I'm dead serious and his grin falls. He looks contemplative for a moment, before placing his phone on the wooden table.

"You think you can stop me? Tch, and how would you do that?" The irken leans over, chin propped up on one hand. "You can't be around me all the time. In case you have forgotten, you humans need to sleep once in a while." Naturally, he's right. If he really wants to do this, I can't stop him. Not all the time, at least. My hands ball into fists so tight that my knuckles are turning white. Shit. This little green bastard is really pissing me off.

"..." I can feel the anger burning in my veins, my whole body tense. It's been a long time since I last felt this riled up around Zim. Not counting yesterday. What's happening to me? Am I really getting so worked up over this? He's threatening humans all the time. Sure, I don't like it, but this? This feeling is different. This is much more intense than the hatred I usually feel. His violet eyes stare straight into mine, the tension in the air around us is getting unbearable. And all of a sudden his stern expression is replaced by a wicked smile. He leans forward even more, invading my personal space. I don't back down.

"If you really want me to keep the other humans out of this, there is only one thing you can do, Dib – worm." His voice is low and dangerous, his smile revealing sharp teeth. One gloved hand reaches out to touch mine, still balled into fists on the table. The warm latex closes around my wrist, pulling me forward. We both lean over the table now, a mere few centimeters separating his mouth from my ear. The words he whispers next have me frozen in place. A shudder runs down my spine and a feeling of dread settles low in my stomach. Not because of what he says, but because I know that I won't refuse him. And I can't help the feeling of having walked right into one of his traps. Those sharp claws bite into my skin just a little too hard, even trough the glove. And now that they are sinking into my flesh, they won't let go again. He got me. And I'm not even fighting to get back out.

"Go ahead and take their place."

~~~tbc.

And here we are with chapter 3! Ahh, I just love wicked Zim. There are so many fanworks out there, and so little of them actually portrait him to be the deceitful alien bastard that he is. Not sure why, but to me the relationship between those two can't be anything but fucked up. Like, they both are, in more ways than one. Heh, for me it just doesn't work as a happy and loving relationship out of the blue. I realize that this story is pretty twisted and will most likely keep up to be that way. Dunno where exactly I'm headed with this, I have a few ideas but I'm uncertain in which way I want the story to progress. So, for now, have this chapter here and wait for the next? I guess! ^_^

Feel free to leave some reviews, feedback always motivates me to get my ass up and write, haha. :D Until next chapter~

~Shad.