Zim opened the door to the cage and stepped inside. Looking at the unconscious human, the Irken let out a sigh before striding over to the cot. He frowned as he noticed the wounds he inflicted on the boy's shoulders had reopened.

"Computer, bring down the medical tray." The computer dingedbefore lowering down what the Irken requested. Taking a pair of scissors from the tray, Zim dropped to his knees. He carefully moved Dib into a sitting position before snipping away at the tattered shirt that just barely hung off of the boy's body. The alien's frown deepened as he took in the sight of the wounds that he inflicted on the Dib just days before. Using his PAK legs Zim grabbed a container with a blue liquid along with a gauze-like bandage, a washcloth and medical adhesive. Opening the container he stuck the cloth in the substance and carefully spread it along the wound, wiping away the dried and fresh blood as he did so. His lips twitched into a small smile. These would just become more scars that the Irken could proudly claim as his own.

Once he was done spreading the healing goo on Dib's body, he unraveled the bandage and began to wrap it around the boy's slim torso, using the whole roll of bandage in the process. He reached back to the tray to grab another roll to wrap around the human's shoulders.

Too engulfed with bandaging his shoulders, Zim didn't notice Dib stirring ever so slightly. Dib eyes fluttered open as he felt the gentle movement of the aliens foreign touch. The boy stared down at the Irken with a look of pure shock and confusion. "Z-Zim?" The boy questioned. Zim's antenna perked up at the sound of the human's voice, but otherwise he gave no sign that he heard Dib. Taping the bandage in place, Zim moved on to the other shoulder. Feeling his face flush with heat, Dib stared at the far corner of the cage. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because," Zim tightened the bandage and taped it down before he stood up and dusted himself off. "If I had to save someone, I'd save you."

Dib's head snapped up too look at the alien with his jaw hanging low. He felt the blood rush to his face once again. "Wh-what?"

Zim glanced at the Dib before walking over to the medical tray. "So aside from being blind, you're deaf as well?" He shook his head as he placed down the medical tape and scissors before commanding the computer to take it away. "I won't repeat myself."

Dib looked down at his feet awkwardly. "Oh."

"Besides," Zim said, turning around to greet Dib with a smirk. "I need to keep you healthy, seeing as you're an important pawn in my plan."

Dib's head shot up with a glare that screamed the word 'hate'. "Pawn? What the fuck does that mean?"

Zim scoffed. He placed his hands on his hips and gave Dib a glare of his own. "Yes Dib. Pawn. Does your tiny brain meats not know what that is, or should I give you the definition?"

Glare intensified, the human slowly rose to his feet. "What kind of sick joke is this? You think I'd actually let you manipulate me to satisfy you and your sick plan? You're more retarded than I ever thought."

Zim's eyes narrowed at the sudden insult. "Hold your tongue, hyooman! I will not tolerate you and your vulgar slander."

"You won't tolerate me? No, no, no Zim. I will not tolerate you, or your fucked up plan! You have the audacity to call me a pawn, but what are you Zim? Huh!?"

"I am Zim, simple as that." he said with a smirk.

"Fuck you Zim! You call me a pawn but you're no better! You'd do anything for your, Tallest." Dib spat. "And why? Oh that's right. They're too idiotic leaders who-" Dib was cut off by the back of the Irkens hand colliding against his right cheek.

Dib stumbled backwards and placed his hand on his cheek. He opened his mouth to retort back, but Zim gripped his arms and slammed him against the bars of the cage, forcing the air out of the boy's lungs. "You will notinsult my Tallest."

Struggling to catch the breath that was so mercilessly forced out of him, Dib began to flail his body in attempt to free himself. Zim however only tightened his grip and dug his claws into the boy's arms, scowling as Dib's flailing became more erratic. The human's knee finally made contact with the Irken's gut.

Zim removed his grip on Dib's shoulders in favor of clutching for his already bruising stomach. He took a few steps back away from the human in order to regain his breath, completely unaware of the other's advances. He didn't hear the sound of Dib's bare feet shuffling closer, didn't even see the fist until it collided with the skin under his left eye and sent him scrambling backwards until he lost all balance and unwillingly let himself fall on his back with a loud clank. Zim let out a loud hiss as pain shot throughout his spine when his PAK ungracefully met the cold, metal floor.

Dib couldn't help the satisfactory smirk that crept across his face at seeing his arch-nemesis laying in a struggling heap beneath him. Without a second thought the human pounced on top of the alien and slammed his palms on the other's shoulders to render any struggle the Irken was sure to put out. Bringing his face down to Zim's, Dib let out a shaky breath before speaking. "I'll neverbe yours." To Dib's shock, the alien didn't retort back. He didn't send him a hateful glare, he didn't struggle against the restraint; he just stared at Dib with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. It was at that time Dib realized that he was practically straddling the Irken beneath him. That's when he felt it. Through the timespan of about twenty seconds, the Irken became somewhat aroused. The human let out a gasp. "No way..."

Zim quickly caught onto Dib's bewilderment and began to thrash his body around to free himself. "LET GO OF ZIM!" He began to kick his legs to throw the human off of his waist. Dib only tightened his grip on the alien's shoulders and refrained the other from escaping from his grasp.. "GET OFF! GET OFF! GET OFF! GET OFF!" Zim's threats became incoherent rambles while he desperately wriggled his body to free himself from this unbearably embarrassing situation.

The human felt his lips twitched into a smirk as an idea formed in his mind. I can use his desire to gain information on his plan.Dib thought evilly. In one fluid movement the human leaned down to the struggling alien and shoved their lips together in a forceful kiss.

Zim's entire body froze. With eyes wide open and antenna standing straight up, Zim hesitated a few moments before he let his lips move to the same rhythm as Dib's. He let out a soft moan as the human's tongue flicked across his lips and without thinking Zim opened his mouth, allowing the intruding muscle to explore his sweet, wet cavern.

Dib moved his hands from Zim's shoulders to his cheeks as the kiss deepened. He let out a frustrated groan when Zim's serpentine tongue fought for dominance but failed as the appendage twisted in impossible angles that Dib just couldn't keep up with.

Smirking at the newfound freedom, Zim's hands darted underneath the boys shirt. He trailed his tri-fingered claws down the smooth skin and was rewarded with a satisfied moan from the other male. The human pulled away and sucked in much needed air before he attacked the alien's lips once more.

Zim gave up roaming the human's chest and moved to his back, dragging his claws along the smooth surface and breaking the skin. Dib couldn't help the moan that left his lips and hardly noticed when one of his hands strayed down the hem of the other's pants. Zim shuddered and gasped into the other's mouth.

Dib slowly pulled away from Zim and stared down into the Irken's glowing, fuchsia eyes.

Zim let out a soft whine as the other pulled away. "Dib?"

The human gave the alien a pitiful look. "I want to continue... But- but I want to know what your plan is Zim... I need to know that you're not just gonna throw me aside after this is all said and done. Please." he begged. "Please just let me in..."

Zim's eyes widened at the boy's sudden change in mood and quickly looked away from his intense gaze. He gave out a frustrated sigh before speaking. "I-" he let out another sigh. "Long before I was an Invader I was a scientist that worked on new weapons for the Iken Military on a planet called 'Vort'. I worked there for quite sometime and designed and built most of the weapons that was used in Operation Impending Doom One." Zim held up his hand before Dib could question what exactly that operation was. "News spread of my accomplishments and it eventually reached Tallest Myuki-" he sighed as Dib gave him a confused look. "What?" he asked irritably.

"I thought your Tallest names are Red and Purple."

Zim shook his head. "Tallest Myuki was the first Tallest."
"What hap-"

"If you would let Zim finish, you would know! No quit interrupting or I will tell you nothing." Clearing his throat, Zim continued. "Tallest Myuki wanted to meet the Irken who had contributed the most vital technology to Empire. I wanted to impress her so bad Dib-Thing..." The alien's gaze returned to meet with the human's confused one. "I designed this mass eating blob you see? And it... got loose... And devoured my Tallest. Not long after that, I completely gave up on my scientific research to become what everyIrken dreamed of. I became an Invader." He let out a sigh. "When we reach the Massive, the Control Brains will me what career field I would like to go into as a reward for taking over your planet and succeeding as an Invader. You can figure out the rest."

Dib shook his head. "Wait, wait. Why exactly do you need me to get your job back?"

Zim's face flushed a dark green as he once again avoided the human's gaze. "I needed to show the Tallest that not all hyoomans were as worthless as they deemed in hopes that I would regain my old position without question." Zim closed his eyes before he continued. "And... Zim... wanted you to become his assistant..." he said barely above a whisper.

Dib's eyes widened. Zim wanted him? As an assistant? He couldn't help the laugh that burst through his lips. This was great. Zim, the egotistical 'I'm better than you!' alien wanted him to stay by his side as an assistant. His laughter grew and he quickly stood up to stare down at the confused Irken. "Tell me Zim, how does it feel?"

Zim raised his nonexistent eyebrow. "How does what feel, hyooman?"

The laughter quickly died as the human stared down at Zim with a satisfied smirk. "How does it feel to be used as a pawn you deemed me to be?"

His eyes slowly widened at the human's words as realization struck him. Dib had used him. Manipulated him. Seduced him into gaining information. Zim felt sick as his PAK allowed him to feel so many different emotions at once. Hurt, betrayed, deceived, embarrassed, and furious. He was furious at Dib for leading him on like that. He was even more furious at himself for letting the human lead him on. Slowly Irken rose to his feet and gave Dib a glare that could burn holes into his very being. Without a second thought, Zim extracted his PAK legs and narrowed them down at the wretched thing in front of him.

Dib's eyes grew wide with fear as the legs suddenly appeared from behind the Irken and let out a silent scream.

It happened in a flash.

Zim thrust his metal limbs at the boy but the Dib jumped out of the way, just barely avoiding being impaled. The boy's eyes quickly darted around the room for something, anything, that could save him from the unstable monster before him. Then he saw it: The water bottle Gir had brought for him just hours before. He lunged his body towards his salvation and quickly pried off the cap. He looked up to see the alien was almost upon him. Without a moment's hesitation, Dib quickly squeezed the bottle and successfully splashed the acidic liquid into Zim's face.

Then it was over.

The Irken let out an ear shattering wail as the water singed the exposed flesh. Dropping to his knees, his hands darted up to his face in an attempt to somehow relieve himself from the overwhelming pain. Dib scrambled to the corner of the cage and watched in horror as Zim let out another unearthly cry before pawing at his burning flesh. The human sat in silence as he watched Zim's shoulders rise and fall while he let out a strangled sob.

It seemed like it was hours before the Irken made any other movements when in reality it had been about two minutes. Zim silently rose to his feet, metallic limbs darting back inside the PAK and his hands slowly fell from his face.

Dib trembled as he looked at the other's already scarring face, expecting some sort of curse or threat. But there was nothing. There was no sound. No emotion. There was nothing but the water that dripped from his face, and to Dib's surprise, a pink liquid that flowed from the aliens eyes. His eyes widened as he looked into Zim's void eyes.

Never before has the Irken felt so broken, even after the death of his Tallest and the consequences that followed. He may have been used in the past, but never like this. He had never felt so attracted and attached to another than he had with the Dib. He had never experienced such warmth from another being that left him absolutely giddy. He had never had his emotions so heartlessly toyed with just to make a point. He felt so betrayed. He felt so used. But worst of all, he felt so very, very sad and alone.

Without saying a word, the Irken turned and slowly walked out of the cage, shutting and locking the door behind him. He quietly strode over to the exit and without looking back, he placed his palm against the pad and let the laser scan his moist eyes.

Dib sat there, dumbfounded. Feeling his heart sink into his chest, he realized he had hurt the other not just physically, but emotionally. He had made the other cry. He brought his legs up to his knees and let out a depressed sigh. He should have felt an overwhelming joy at the devastation he caused for the other, should have jumped up and claimed this another 'victory for Earth!'. But he didn't. Dib felt guilty, ashamed, and disgusted at himself for causing another living thing such pain. Even if it was his nemesis, he should have never manipulated the other in such a ludicrous way just to gain some information about his situation. He gripped his hair and pulled it fiercely before letting out another sigh.

When had I become such a monster?