chapter seven to make up for my lateness on these chapters

enjoy~!

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Normal POV

Zim wasn't particularly hungry, but he made a point to drag Skooge with him to the cafeteria. It wasn't anywhere near as packed as it was before the night-cycle because everyone took the time to keep recharging or just rush off to training. Zim would normally be doing the same, but after what Spork told him yesterday, Zim had a pretty good idea that Red would try and see him again before training. Of course, Skooge had no objection to eating with someone, let alone his roommate, even if Zim wasn't talking that much.

As Zim ripped apart part of a vort dog, chewing on it, he was gazing off into nothingness, his eyes resting on the table's surface between him and Skooge. It was times like this that Zim was especially greatful he was an Elite. He was trained to absorb information and plan accordingly. And he certainly needed to think about what he was going to do about this.

It was surreal...Not that long ago, Zim had never concerned himself with relationships and now he felt torn between two very different Irkens.

Zim frowned. He spared a quick glance to his partner who was blissfully unaware of Zim's inner turmoil, chomping away at his food. For once, Zim actually wished he trusted Skooge with such sensitive information. He needed some insight...

Zim sighed, taking a long sip of his soda. Red was a bit of a jerk, but the crimson-eyed Irken did prove to Zim yesterday that he was capable of listening and helping Zim...even offering public affection, even if the geture was small. And they had something in common: they both loved destruction.

Still...Zim smiled at the thought of the yellow-clad Taller. Spork just made him so happy...And even though Red had attending the Academy with Zim for years, Zim felt like he knew Spork much better. And the Taller listened to him...He made Zim feel...beautiful...

But Red had been one of the few Irkens Zim had ever tried to impress. He couldn't get Red out of his mind!

Zim groaned, pushing his tray away and holding his head in his hands. What on Irk had he gotten himself into? Why was it all so complicated?

Skooge looked in surprise as Zim's current position, curious. "Hey, Zim? You okay?"

"I will be..." Zim muttered. "Hopefully..."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Yes and no," Zim ran his hands over his face, huffing. "I just need to think...Things are getting too muddled..."

"You seemed pretty relaxed before," Skooge pointed out. "Last night you had a smile on your face. What changed?"

Zim frowned, thinking. "Nothing, really...Save for the way I look at things..." He gnawed lightly on the inside of his cheek. "Skooge...Can I ask you something?"

"Sure,"

"I know someone who...who..." Zim paused, thinking. "I know someone who...had this...thing. A snack,"

Skooge narrowed an eye, confused. "A...snack?"

"Yeah, a snack," Zim felt stupid, but he couldn't tell Skooge what was really going on. "And he really likes it, but it...it, uh...makes him feel sick sometimes when he's around it," Sick wasn't the right word, but when using snacks instead of Irkens...

"Okay..."

"And then there's another snack he just came across...a new one...and it makes him...really happy. He l-...He kinda lo-...He likes it a lot..." Zim blushed, not making eye contact with Skooge, feeling stupid and praying Skooge didn't understand.

Skooge, however, put two and two together and nearly fell out of his seat. Zim wasn't asking about another Irken or even snacks...Zim was in a love triangle! Skooge smiled softly. Finally Zim's attitude lately made sense. Not to mention the late nights out and why Zim wanted to leave the room as soon as possible... He decided that he'd pretend to be ignorant, though. For Zim's sake. "And he wants to know if he should stop...buying the other snack? The one that makes him feel sick?"

"Yes! Exactly," Zim's shoulder's slumped and his lekku were pressed back. It was obvious to Skooge the other was in distress.

"I see..." Skooge took a drink of his soda as he thought over his answer carefully. "Well...If I were him, I'd try to think of why I'd be buying something that made me sick. There must be something good about it if I'm willling to put up with it,"

Zim slowly nodded, understanding. Yes, that made sense...Red did have a lot of good qualities. And Spork had said that the only reason Red scolded Zim was to help him... "Yeah...it does..." He looked back to the other. "That...makes a lot of sense.."

Skooge nodded, glad he could offer some help. "But, if it makes you sick...is it worth it?"

Zim went quiet, staring off into space again. Skooge let Zim get lost in thought and waited patienly to see if Zim would say any more. In truth, he wanted to know who Zim was talking about. Who was the 'bad snack'? And who was the 'good one'? A single image came to mind then of when Purple and Red had came up to him in the cafeteria before and Skooge began coughing, his drink going down the wrong tube.

Zim jumped in shock. "Sk-Skooge? What's wrong?"

Skooge just shook his head, still coughing violently, his hand covering his mouth while the other gestured at Zim to stay seated; that he was okay.

Zim frowned. "Jeez, Skooge, I knew you were clumsy but not that much..."

Skooge laughed as his coughing died down. "Sorry," He replied. "I just drank too fast I guess,"

Zim nodded, watching Skooge to make sure he didn't do anything else stupid. He had no idea what was really going through Skooge's head...Otherwise he might've panicked...

oooo

Skooge was still preoccupied when he went to his station. He wasn't looking forward to it today because he was seated beside Red. Still, the smaller one decided to branch out and see if Red was indeed one of the 'snacks' Zim had spoken of before.

He took a deep breath as he took his seat and resumed his simulation from the previous session. "Hello, Comrade Red," he greeted.

Red nodded in aknowledgement, his eyes barely leaving the screen. "Comrade Skooge,"

Skooge hesitated before continuing. "Um...So...How have you been?"

Red narrowed an eye in confusion. "Fine..Why?"

"Just wondering. Last time we actually spoke, you were looking for Zim...And then...you came to our room to walk him to training," Skooge stepped carefully, not wanting to be on the other's bad side.

Red flushed a bit. He hadn't known Skooge had been there. "Yes...Yes, I did..." He spared another quick glance to the other, relieved that Skooge wasn't watching him as closely as he had feared. "Did Zim say something about it?"

"Not about you two walking together, no," Skooge was greatful that it was early enough that no one was in their row to overhear. "He's just been kinda...preoccupied lately. I was wondering if maybe you knew something about it. He's been coming back late at every night-cycle. I assumed it was because he was with you,"

"No, he's been dining with..." Red stopped himself, a thought coming to mind. "Does he tell you where he is? Who he's with?"

"No. I don't want to pry into his life," Skooge replied. "He just asked me something odd when we were in the cafeteria earlier. I thought maybe you said something to make him distressed,"

So that's why there was no response at his room... Red was relieved. He had been scared maybe Zim had spent the night with Spork already. "I don't recall saying anything to upset him," Red answered honestly. "What did he ask?"

Skooge laughed a bit. "Actually he tried to say it in a way that he didn't ask anything outright," Skooge explained. "He asked what someone should do if they have one thing that they like that gives them a hard time and one thing that makes them really happy,"

"What did you say to that?"

"I said that if something made someone upset but they still put up with it, then there must be something good about it,"

Red smiled at that. "I see...Did Zim say anything else?"

"No, nothing..."

Red nodded, feeling relaxed in comparison to earlier. "I see...Thanks for letting me know, Skooge,"

"No problem," Skooge replied, smiling in return. He had thought before that Red was the 'good snack'...But now he knew. Red was the thing Zim was having a hard time giving up. So who was the one that Zim was around so much now?

Oooo

Red was able to leave early again. He hadn't been able to see Zim before, so he was determined to be able to make up some face time.

He strode into the research station as he had before, finding Zim in the same glass room as before. Not willing to wait until Zim finished, Red went to the instructor. "Sir?"

Said Irken turned at being addressed, a little surprised to see the Pilot. "Ah. Irken Red. What brings you here?"

"I want to see if I can have clearance to visit with Comrade Zim...If I don't interfere with his work, that is,"

"If he doesn't shoo you out. Get some protective goggles,"

Once the instructor gave him the code, Red nodded in thanks, moving quickly. He wasted no time in punching the code in and stepping in, quickly moving to stand beside Zim. "Hey, Zim!"

Zim nearly screamed, jumping almost a foot in the air. "R-Red! What are you doing in here?"

"They let me in," Red explained. "I hope you don't mind,"

Zim blushed. "No...of course not..." He went back to work, trying not to be embarrassed. In all honesty, he hadn't wanted to see Red yet. He still wanted time to think...

Red smiled. "I wanted to see you earlier, but Skooge told me you were eating with him,"

"Mhm..."

"What weapon are you building right now?"

"Actually it's a mind-scatter device," Zim corrected. "It's to disorient an opponent,"

"How do you test them?"

"They're taken to a special room and experienmented on brought in prisoners that are shipped in. But they only happen three times a year, due to the security risk,"

"So you won't know if it's successful or not for a while," Red commented.

"I have no doubt of its success," Zim replied. He should have been flattered at Red's attention. A small part of him was, but for the most part, he was just worried. He didn;t know what to do about Red now that he knew why Red wanted to spend time with him. Plus it brought all sorts of questions to mind. How long had Red felt this way? How strong was it? If Zim let things carry on, would it be as intense as with Spork?

And there was Spork...Zim had really taken things far last night, removing his glove before the Taller...The thought made Zim blush darker. He didn't regret it. Not for an instant...And Spork looked so happy...And the way he kissed his hand...

Zim spared Red a glance and realized that the other was already looking intently at him, leaning against the lab table. Zim found himself wanting to scold the other for feeling the way he did...Why was Red interested in him? Didn't he have Purple?

"Are you alright, Zim?" Red asked. He saw Zim's somber attitide and became concerned.

Zim sighed. "Yes...Just distracted. I have a lot on my mind,"

"Like me and Spork?"

"...Yes..." Zim looked away, going back to his project. "You're both very confusing...and yet so simple. It makes my head hurt,"

Red swallowed nervously. "So...you know?"

"Spork told me...I didn't understand on my own," Zim admitted. "I just don't know what to say about it. What do you want me to say about it?"

"I don't want you to have to say anything," Red clarified. "I just...want you to be mine..."

"And Spork wants the same," Zim sighed. He looked back to Red. "Red, I don't know what to do. You never said anything before,"

"I know. I didn't know what you would say..."

"Probably nothing," Zim replied. "I'd probably still be confused. Maybe even more so," He continued tweaking the device, using it to keep him from fidgeting. "I feel cheap and undecided...I'm spending all this time with Spork, but then you come along and then you want to spend time with me...And quite honestly, I'm finding myself much closer with Spork than you,"

"Are you saying there's no chance of anything being between us?" Red felt deflated at the idea.

"Just...why me?" Zim pleaded as he gazed back at Red. "Why not any other Elite? Why me? Why not Purple? Aren't you two close? Much closer than we are, anyway,"

"Purple is my best friend," Red said. "I've never thought of him or anyone else the way I think about you,"

"Well I've never thought about you that way," Zim said honestly. His tone wasn't cold; just direct.

"Have you thought of Spork that way?"

Zim turned deep blue at that, confirming Red's greatest fear. "That's not the point!" He tore his eyes from Red's. "Just...I'm confused, Red," Zim answered honestly. "I don't know what to do and I don't know what you expect of me. More...I don't even know if I can feel anything other than respect for you,"

Red perked. "You respect me?"

"Of course I do," Zim replied. "I have for a long time. You had such high scores, you have your height, the instructors all like you...Of course I do. But you did nothing but scold me for years and I had no idea it was because you cared. I just thought you were being a massive jerk! Why couldn't you just be honest in the beginning?"

Red sighed. He couldn't be mad at Zim. Everything the smaller one said made sense... "It was because...I didn't know my feelings until...I tried to explain to Purple that I felt...off when I was around you,"

"Off?"

"Like...I wanted to...touch you and...hear your voice and...see you smile..." Red frowned. "And I hated it when the other Elites picked on you. I didn't want you expelled because of some other Irken's stupidity. I like seeing you...but I didn't know how to spend time with you...You're kind of...scary sometimes,"

Zim laughed a bit at the last comment. "Scary, huh? I could say the same for you,"

"I guess," Red admitted, smiling weakly. It seemed like he was further behind than he thought...But he perfered to hear it from Zim rather than Spork. "You didn't answer my question before...Is there any chance of us...being anything?"

Zim bit his lip. There was that desperate stare again. Just like Spork... Only this time, Zim couldn't give what he had before. He found he didn't want to. He didn't know Red like he knew Spork. "C-can we...be friends? And see if it happens?"

Red couldn't help his disappointment. He felt like it was a pity offer, and that made his squedilly-spooch plummet. It was better than nothing...Right? "Yes...I'd be honored to be your friend," Red offered his hand to Zim. Zim looked at it for a moment before accepting the gesture. Taking the oppritunity, Red pulled him forward and placed a small kiss next to Zim's right lekku. "I'm sorry for the time I wasted. I hope that some way I can make up for it," he spoke quietly. He pulled back, hating the pained look Zim gave him. He smiled weakly. "I should leave you be...Please, come talk to me once your head is cleared more..." He reluctantly left, feeling broken and helpless, but knowing there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

Once he was out of sight Zim let go of a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, feeling like trash.

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

poor red...i promise not every chapter will be like this

plz review~