Blind Colour

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A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the late update. You know how it is when you're on holidays an' all. Busy like a bee :)

…

… Okay, I lie. I wasn't busy at all. Instead, I was just chilling out, without a care in the world, just like what normal people do on their holidays after a stressful year of pressure and grades is finally done and finished with. Can you really blame me?? XP

But anyway, I won't do that for a long time now. I've had my fun; can't keep neglecting my self-appointed duty as a fanfiction writer for long. Nyah.

So enjoy! :P

Oh yeah, and if anyone's interested, I've posted a new IZ story called 'G for Garbage'. It's a sweet, humourous, action-packed oneshot featuring Gir and Zim. If you have time (and of course you do, since you're reading fanfiction :P) go and have a look see. You might even enjoy it XD

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Zim did it. He created the most fool-proof plan that the history of fool-proof plans couldn't even compare to. In fact, it was hardly a fool-proof plan at all; it was the ULTIMA, the greatest, mind-blowing, absolutely most BRILLIANT plan to have been made in the history of… of… ALL PLANS. Nothing could make it fail. NOTHING.

And it involved nothing but a toaster with a special aspect.

Zim cackled madly as he made his way to school. Beneath his arm he carried the toaster of misery that would certainly create doom to his enemies. All he needed to do was plant it in Dib's locker and Zim wouldn't need to worry about the big-headed boy for the rest of the day. Enough time for me to kidnap Ren and FINALLY find out how she got colour-blind. It's pure genius!

He arrived at the school, smugly, walking with his usual Irken military march. Everyone stared at him as he entered but he didn't once take notice of it. He was stalking/marching towards the locker he knew belonged to that Dib-worm - that horrible, horrible Dib-worm who continued to thwart his FLAWLESS plans again and again - and finally stopped in front of it. He stared at the complex lock on its surface. Then, with a sneer, he pulled back an empty fist and punched it.

KER-UNCH.

"Ow, ow, owie, ow, ow!" Zim dropped the toaster and began nursing his bruising fist. The locker remained un-dented, mocking him. "Grr, curse you, metallic barrier of protection!" he sneered at the door. "How DARE you wound the almighty ZIM and think you could get away with it? Horrible, earthen technology such as yoouuuuu don't have the RIGHT to think of defying me! Zim curses you and your ability to make his fist hurt. Stupid metal substance!"

"I think it's stupid how you actually punched the locker," a familiar, sneering voice sounded.

Zim spun around in order to glare at the one who made such a comment. "Dib-sister," he growled back. "I know very well about the capabilities of these lockers all you human dirt-baby students possess. Dib-thing's metal box is just different! Harder! In fact, I believe it to be booby-trapped! Your wretched brother must have booby trapped his own locker!"

Gaz rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure he did," she sarcastically said before walking away.

The green alien glanced at the locker combination on Dib's locker. "Oi, Gaz-beast, tell Zim of Dib-stink's security code!" He shook his fist at her back. "TELL ME! Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me!"

"Zero, seven, three, eight, nine, nine, eight, four, six, three, two, two, one, two, five, eight, one, zero, three," Gaz answered without turning back. "Now leave me alone. Don't talk to me."

Zim allowed Gaz to stalk away and turned back to face the locker. Picking up the toaster, he began to punch in the combination, all the while saying, "Ha! I knew it! It's so obvious! Of course that Dib-stink would choose such an inferior earth number to be the key to his belongings. Ha! Pitiful." The locker clicked open and Zim, ignoring the high-tech technology and the secret photos and notes of himself inside, placed the toaster on Dib's pile of books. Zim released a smirk as he closed the door. "Hehehe, and you claimed to be a protector? Pathetic."

Then he walked off, laughing maniacally, ignoring the fearful stares of all he passed.

He didn't even stop once to think about why Gaz had helped him out in the first place.

-x-

The class bell rang for first period and Dib made his way merrily to his locker in order to collect his books. I hope Gaz doesn't feel too bad about me stealing the last slice of pizza from the fridge this morning, he mused to himself. But seriously, I was hungry. She'd understand, right? She didn't seem TOO angry… Maybe I shouldn't have taunted it in front of her face, though. That was kind of stupid of me.

With a dismissive shrug, telling himself that he'd face her wrath at lunch time or something, Dib punched in his locker combination and opened the door. "Huh?" he asked out lout to himself as he stared at the toaster sitting on his books. "What the? When did I have a toaster in my locker?"

Gingerly, he picked it up with both his hands and curiously peered inside of it. This is one weird love letter…

But then suddenly, before he knew it, the toaster exploded. Out of the toaster came Gir, laughing and dressed like the boogey man, complete with a green, strawy costume and holes for the eyes and mouth. "I WAS THE TOASTER ALL ALONG!" It latched itself on Dib's head like a leech. "YOUR HEAD IS BIG! YOUR HEAD IS BIG! Did you knows that, Dibby? DID YA?!"

"AHH! GIR! WHAT THE--"

But Gir only continued to laugh loudly, drawing attention to himself and Dib as the students all began to stare. "I'm distracting you!" Gir giggled insanely. "I'm distracting you! WEEE! Distracting, distracting, distracting, DOOM! YAY for the TACOS!"

Finally, Dib pulled Gir off of him and held him up by the triangular top head of the costume. "What? Did Zim put you up to this?" He narrowed his eyes warily. "Why would I need to be distracted? Unless it…" He gasped. "REN!"

Gir screamed. "Mastah said you'd say her name! Mastah said you'd say IT! Now I hafta attacks you for REAL! For REEEAAAAL!" Through the costume's eyeholes, Dib saw Gir's optics turn red. "Engaging into Mortal Kombat Mode. Prepare to be disemboweled."

Dib's eyes widened and he immediately dropped the dysfunctional SIR unit. Gir landed on the ground upright and then, through the potato sack costume he wore, he produced sharp, long, razor claws. Dib gulped. Then Gir's eyes turned cyan-coloured again and the razors retracted. "I'm gonna chase you now!" he giggled madly and then proceeded to do so.

The fear for the insane robot caused Dib to run away, screaming at the top of his lungs, as Gir chased him with his arms thrashing about, screaming too, like a lunatic.

The people of the hallway just stared. They were beginning to get used to the craziness ever since that green kid arrived in town.

Said green kid heard the screaming from inside his own classroom, a whole building away, and smirked.

-x-

The lunch bell rang and Zim quickly made his way into the cafeteria. To his extreme pleasure, he didn't spot that horrible Dib-monster anywhere. I can't believe Gir actually OBEYED me this time, he thought to himself as he marched to his table. I wonder how long he could keep it up, though?

He arrived at the table, not surprised to find that Ren was already sitting there. He sat down with an air of importance around him. Just as Ren looked up at him, he began his speech, "I sincerely apologize for the events that occurred yesterday, Ren-thing," he started solemnly. "I wish for you to know that the Dib-worm won't be interrupting us today when you come over to my house."

Ren shifted her eyes uneasily from side to side. "Will your dog try to attack me again?"

Zim blinked. "Eh? What do--, oh, you mean that one." He waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, no, you won't be seeing him either, I think. He's busy with another assignment I've recently given him. You need not worry about Gir, Ren-human." He grinned, the smile displaying two rows of razor shark-teeth. "You needn't worry about Gir."

The rainbow-haired girl sighed with relief, missing the dark undertones of Zim's reassurance. "Oh, good, because I almost got an infection," she said merrily. "So, what are we going to do at your house, Zim? We didn't do much yesterday, with the incident with Gir and Dib. What do you have planned?"

Just a mind probe being injected into your brain so it could gather the data from your memories, Zim mentally answered. Aloud, he said hastily, "Nothing suspicious or morally questionable, if that's what you're thinking. It's going to be fun and at the same time safe. We'll play a game that doesn't require your head being torn open with a tube being jammed into it. No, nothing of the sort."

Ren smiled contentedly. Even though she'd only met Zim a couple of days ago, she was beginning to get used to his mannerisms. "You're a really good guy, Zim. I like you. I want to show you something special." She reached forward and grabbed Zim's wrist, much to his aggravation. "Can you come with me to the park after school, Zim? I know you're planning for me to go to your house, but can we go to the park instead?"

Zim snatched his wrist away from her, glaring heatedly. "WHAT? You're obviously insulting my living dwelling. Is my home not good enough for you, you dirt-child?" he sneered. "You'd rather spend your time in a filthy human park, infested with urine and boogers and other disgusting human body extracts? You disgust me."

"No! No, Zim, I love your house, really!" Ren quickly denied, trying to win his favour. "Just, this place is special to me, and since you're the first friend I've made in this town, you're special too. I want to show it to you, Zim. Please?" She gave him those wide, grey eyes and Zim was unwittingly reminded of a pleading, puppy-like Gir.

"Urg," he groaned with obvious dislike. "Do you promise to come to my house afterwards, then?" he asked irritably. He didn't want all his efforts for today to be wasted just because this stupid worm-baby wanted to go to a filthy human field of nothingness. "You'll hurt my pathetic human feelings if you decline my invitation."

"O-Of course, Zim," Ren responded immediately, eager to please. "But I won't be able to stay for long. I have to get home at seven at the latest."

"Yeah, yeah. It won't take long for me to suck out the knowledge from your brain, anyhow." Just as Ren was about to question what he meant by this, he held up a finger. "Don't speak. Your voice is annoying," he growled. "I, the almighty ZIM, needs to go to one of your germ-infested toilet cubicles and begin urinating, like a normal human. Like what you pathetic breed of mammals often say, 'I need to empty out my human organ called the bladder'."

With that, Zim stood and marched out of the cafeteria, leaving a dejected-looking Ren behind.

Obviously, he was displeased by the turn of events. He didn't want to go to the park. He didn't want to spend any more time than necessary with a stinky human. He didn't want his overall plan for planet conquest to be delayed by a stupid little girl and her 'special spot'. It was STUPID and UNWORTHY of his time.

This better benefit me in someway or another, he snarled to himself. Or else she'll feel the consequences for wasting Zim's time!

-x-

"Here it is!" Ren cheered, dragging Zim behind by his wrist. The alien gritted his teeth in vicious control; he wanted to tear her arm off at that moment. Zim HATED to be touched by a human; absolutely LOATHED it. "Isn't it fantastic, Zim?"

All Zim could see was a giant park filled with grown, lush green grass and trees full of blossoming flowers. Wild weeds (or wild flowers, whatever you wished to call them), grew everywhere in the open field. The sky was a deep, calming blue, with the sun about to set. No one else was at the park with them, except for the odd child or two with an accompanying parent.

"Yes, sure, as fantastic as a park could be," Zim replied dryly as he was continued to be pulled. "Where are you taking me, pathetic stink-beast? Zim demands that you inform him right now!"

Ren giggled. She seemed oddly carefree. "A long time ago, I used to live here, before my parents got divorced. I always went to this park whenever I felt upset or sad. It really hurt me when I had to move away." She let go of Zim's wrist, much to his relief. He felt like tearing her head off at any moment because of the continuing contact. She ran into the middle of the field and laughed. "But now I'm back and although it's a lot smaller than I remembered it to be, it's still got the same peaceful air to it, you know?"

"Human, you're sprouting out jibberish and nonsense. I suggest you see a psychiatrist, Ren-weird," Zim commented grumpily. "This park is stupid and inferior. There's nothing in it but trees and grass. What could possibly cheer you up in this dry, dreary place where absolutely nothing exists?" Zim sneered at his surrounding environment. It was too open for him, with very little concealment. Zim hated it. "It's absolutely miserable. What do you see in this damnable place?"

Ren smiled at him, her hands clasped behind her back. "Colour."

Zim's eyes widened with surprise at the unusual answer. His narrowed eyes demanding explanation, Ren laughed and simply sat down. She patted the ground next to her, inviting him to join her.

And sink down to her horrible, dirty level? I think not. Zim stood next to her, a meter away, but did not sit down. This seemed to suit Ren just fine though.

"I see colour here, Zim," Ren answered him happily. "I see it everywhere. Don't you see it too? The flowers, the trees, the grass, the sky… I see the colour of them so perfectly here. It's everywhere."

"What kind of trickery do you speak of?" Zim spat. "You told me that you were colour-blind! The definition for colour-blind is that you can't see colour at all. You're crazy, dirt-child. You can't claim to be colour-blind and yet see colour in this park." His eyes narrowed dangerously at her. "Did you lie to ZIM?!"

Ren shook her head, ever calm. "That's not what I meant, Zim," she said lightly. "I've been here so many times before when I was younger, before I lost my colour sight, that even though I can't see it right now, I can imagine what colour everything is. I can remember it so vividly…" Her eyes saddened but her small smile remained. "I remember that those trees used to be such a dark green and that the grass was always a lighter green, like lime or something. And the flowers. They were beautiful, since every flower seemed to be a different colour. Red, white, blue, orange, purple… This place was just full of colour. And when the sun went down, even though we're in the city, this park just had the most perfect view of it. The sky would light up in all sorts of different colours, like pink and yellow and orange and purple… It was just so beautiful. So beautiful…"

She looked up, towards the sky. "All I can see now are shades of black and white and grey. I can remember the colours and what they look like, I can, but I'm scared I might forget. In fact, the more years that go by, I find myself fearing it more and more, because I can't imagine them so vividly anymore. It's only at this park, only here, that I can see them." She looked down. "But I'm scared that I might forget the colours that exist here too…"

Zim had to endure her speech with obvious detachment but, oddly enough, he felt himself actually listening to what she was saying. "Zim doesn't understand the way you think, Ren-child," he managed to grumble. He crossed his arms when Ren looked at him. "Colour is nothing. It's utterly pointless. Colour is just there to deceive and make illusions of what darker things lie beneath. Colour is a non-variable; it does not matter."

Ren continued to look at him, not at all offended. "But colour is so beautiful," she said quietly. "I realized how important it was after I became colour-blind. We need colour, Zim. Without it… the world is just… dull."

"Bah!" Zim spat, glaring at her reproachfully. "Colour is colour, just like a chair is a chair. We don't need it; it's just an asset to make our lives more comfortable. We won't die without colour. Stop your pitiful excuse of misery and forget about it. Colour is nothing. You're doing yourself no favours by wallowing in self-pity," he sneered.

"You're wrong," Ren argued sternly. "Colour is something. It's a part of you and me, Zim. Without colour… Without colour… you just feel so… empty inside…" She pulled her knees to her chest as she looked up at the sunset. "Trust me. I know what it feels like. Colour is art, Zim, and if it's taken away from you, it's like… like… your inspiration, your soul, your spirit and your joy is taken away from you too. It's like… you're breathing but… but you're not living. Not really. It's like looking at a rainbow and seeing only grey. It's like looking at a painting and seeing only swirls and lines. It's just not the same. Do you understand, Zim? Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"

"NO!" Zim screamed. He glared at her so angrily that she jumped in surprise, even as she sat down. "Your mumblings of sentimental human emotions sickens me! Your attachment to an unnecessary ability disgusts me! Colour is pointless in the overall scheme of things but why do you humans feel such a strong attachment to it? Colour is merely colour; it has nothing to do with anything important. It has nothing to do with your inspiration, your soul or your spirit or your happiness! That's the biggest load of GARBAGE that I've EVER heard! You're pathetic, Ren. Absolutely pathetic."

He glared at her fiercely, hatefully. "To depend on colour so much that it changes the way in which you view your life is simply idiotic. You should be able to appreciate life just by breathing, not by what you see with your eyes. Your insolence insults me."

He turned around and began walking away.

"Wait, Zim, where are you--"

"Home! I no longer wish to be in the presence of one who falls to their knees at just one handicap. The sight of you churns my stomach," he snapped.

So he left her there, all alone. She let herself cry as she watched the sunset, trying to imagine what colours it produced. But with her heart aching, she just couldn't.

She knew she was pathetic, to be depressed by something so trivial when others were suffering from starvation and violence. But she just couldn't help it. She loved colour. Whenever she was sad, all she needed to do was look at a rainbow, or a bouquet of flowers, and she'd cheer up immediately.

"I can't help it," she mumbled to herself. "I just love colour too much. Waking up one day to realize that I couldn't see any of it anymore just broke me. I can't help it… I can't."

She buried her head in her arms. "It's like I lost my very best friend…"

-x-

Zim was infuriated. The humans were just so pitiful and weak that it actually angered him. Oh, stealing their colour-sight would be the key to conquering the world, but by Irk, they were just so irritating, so darn frustrating, that Zim wondered if their species was actually worthy enough to be conquered in the first place! They were just so pathetic!

Once he got home, he slammed open the door to his base, his anger still high and boiling. "GIR!" he screamed in fury. "GIR! Where are you?"

When the robot didn't appear, Zim yelled out his names a couple of more times. He still didn't show himself. He still must be with Dib, he thought. Ah, it's all pointless now! Today has been an utter failure! I no longer want to spend another SECOND with that pathetic child. Tomorrow, I'll just have her kidnapped against her will and just suck out the knowledge already. Enough of this child's game. I am sick of it.

"Master, what's wrong?" his Computer sounded throughout the base. "You seem grumpy. Did something happened at your date with that Ren girl?"

"It was not a date, Computer! And nothing is wrong! I've just become more motivated in destroying the Earth, that's all!" Zim sneered.

"… So I take it that your date didn't go well, then?" the Computer asked lightly.

"Just shut your speakers!" Zim growled. "I'm not in the mood!" He began pacing his home, grumbling angrily beneath his breath, "What's so great about colour? It's nothing; nothing, I tell you! It isn't a necessity. So why, then, would humans, especially that girl, become so weak-spirited when they lose it? Pathetic! PATHETIC! Another point to humanity's pathetic levels."

"Colour is a source of creativeness and life to the humans; it plays a big part in their lives," the Computer answered Zim's rhetorical questions to himself. "Humans desire for happiness and so therefore are naturally possessive with their belongings. If they lose one of their possessions, then naturally they are sad. The bigger they value something, then the greater their sadness becomes once it's lost. Since humans are born with colour-sight, losing it is like losing one of their senses. It becomes both a physical and mental disability."

Zim glared at the ceiling. "Didn't I tell you to shut up, Computer?" he growled.

"Eh? But weren't you asking me questions, master?"

"I was talking to my--! Oh, never mind! Just shut up now, okay?" Zim snapped. "I'm tired; I want to go to the recharge room. Computer, take me the--"

But then he heard a familiar scream. Zim turned around just in time to see Gir flying right through his door and smashing into a wall. Followed after him was Dib, who crawled through the hole in the door with ease.

"SEE?!" the defective robot screamed once he was sitting upright. "I told ya that the master would be here after sunset! I told ya! I kept me promise! NOW GIVE ME THAT BUBBLEGUM!!"

Dib tossed Gir a piece of rectangular bubble gum without a second's thought. After the deal was done, Dib charged straight towards Zim. "You monster! What have you done to Ren?!" he yelled, tackling Zim to the floor.

"Get off me! Get your stinky, flabby meats off ZIM!" the alien screamed. They began rolling around on the ground, trying to keep the other down.

"Where is she? Is she in your labs? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER, YOU ALIEN SCUM?!"

Finally having enough, Zim summoned his PAK legs and easily swept Dib off of him. "I have done nothing to her yet, Dib-worm!" he sneered down at his opponent. "But rest assured, she will suffer at my hands! Her pitiful, ill spirit disgusts me! She's a weakling with broken determination and absolutely no pride! Instead of rising despite her handicap, she continues to be depressive. She's a failure, hardly worthy of my time!" He grinned maliciously. "Do not worry, Dib-thing. I will not kill her. She's too pathetic to be killed by MY hands."

Dib's eyes narrowed. "Zim, you heartless monster! What have you said to her?"

"Nothing that she already knows," he sneered. "Now get out of my base, Dib. You're in here weaponless and unarmed. It would be so easy to kill you right now." He shook his head. "But I'm sick of seeing humans today. I've had enough of your species. Just leave. Be grateful that I'm showing mercy today."

Dib narrowed his eyes but sensed the sincerity in Zim's weary tone. "You won't lay another hand on her, Zim," he whispered in a threat. "I'll protect her; I'll protect the whole human race from you!"

"Yeah, yeah; just get out already!" Zim demanded in annoyance.

At last, with one spiteful look, Dib finally left. Zim continued to glare at the hole in his door. "First my roof, then my door…" He retracted his PAK legs and stared at Gir. "YOU! You better clean this up, Gir! Properly! I don't want you just stuffing the hole with rubber piggies and bacon this time!" he scowled.

Before Gir could say what would've been a wacky comment, Zim stalked away from him. He was tired. His anger had drained him.

Now all he could think of were the sensitive words Ren had spoken to him and the facts his Computer had so smartly stated about human ideology.

And maybe, just maybe, he was beginning to regret his outburst.

-x-

A/N: Aww, I made Zim really mean here :( So mean that I wondered if he was OOC. Aw well. I think this will be the meannest you'll see Zim acting for the rest of this story. Yay? :P That's all. Thanks for reading :)

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