"Tell me you're not serious, human. This is our vacation?"

Zim's eyes were narrowed in disgust as he took in the crowds. Today was particularly hot, and the waterpark was nearly at capacity. Swarms of humans milled around in various stages of undress, carting around bags of towels and clothes, overpriced junk food being sold around every corner. Kids ran around everyone's feet, shrieking loudly.

A child, not looking where she was going, bumped into Zim, nearly causing the alien to go crashing into the concrete pathway. He hissed at her, but she had already disappeared into the crowd.

"I didn't expect it to be quite so busy…" Dib admitted. "But it might still be fun. You made sure to thoroughly cover yourself in paste, right?"

"I did," Zim confirmed. "But I was expecting something more… not awful."

"Just give it a try, I'm sure you'll have more fun when we get started." He grabbed Zim's hand in his and they made their way through the crowd towards the sitting area where they could drop their stuff. They passed the main pool, a huge basin that filled with waves every fifteen minutes.

"Maaatt!" Screamed a child in a pool donut to their friend. "Did you just wee in the pool?"

"Nooo!" The other child screamed back. Then, "Okay, maaaybe!"

Zim stopped dead to stare at Dib. His expression said it all.

"Jeez Zim, it's just something that happens at public pools. They pump so much chlorine into everything here, it's clean enough." He tried to continue on, but Zim wouldn't budge.

"I am not going to touch a single drop of this disgusting park water," Zim hissed. "Take me back to the base."

"Zim-"

"NOW!"

Dib heaved an exasperated sigh, not that he could really blame the Irken. He'd forgotten how gross public parks were. He just wished they'd come to this conclusion before he'd purchased the entry tickets.

They turned around and started on their way home. Dib glanced at the Irken every so often, who was leaning against the car window as he drove. He felt guilty his idea had turned out so poorly, and now all they could do was go home and boil in the summer heat.

Zim hopped out of the car when they reached his base. "Bring the supplies, Dib-slave!" He called as he made his way into the building.

He grabbed their bags and followed, slightly confused. Zim was waiting at the elevator in the kitchen, tapping his foot impatiently. The Irken grabbed him and pulled him inside and they were spat out upstairs, in the ship hangar.

"I like where this is going," Dib grinned.

Zim puffed out his chest, a smirk on his features. "I will show you what a real summer vacation is, silly human. Now get in."

They squeezed into the ship, Zim sitting on Dib's lap, the human's arms wrapped around his torso.

Then they were off, Earth fading from view as Zim's voot sped through space. Dib leaned back in his seat, enjoying the view and the closeness they shared.

Dib was so mesmerized at the sight of swirling galaxies and bright stars he barely noticed the time passing. It wasn't until Zim suddenly sat up tall and yelled 'aha!' that he shifted and realized his muscles were stiff and cramped.

"What is it?" He asked, peering over Zim. They were rapidly approaching a planet and Zim ignored him as he initiated the landing process.

"This planet's atmosphere should be fine for humans," Zim said, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. Nonetheless he popped open the glass windshield and hopped out.

Dib half-expected to start gasping for air, or to be poisoned by toxic gases not harmful to Irkens, but instead the breath he took was clean and had an unusual but agreeable taste to it.

He climbed out after Zim, taking in the scenery before him. It was clear why Zim had selected this planet. It was covered in bodies of crystal-clear fluid (water? Or something else, wondered Dib), the ground below him was a fine dark sand and the nearby sun was just close enough to bathe them in a toasty but not unpleasant heat. It looked like paradise.

Zim was watching him expectantly, waiting for his reaction. He pulled the little alien into a hug, squeezing him tightly.

"This is perfect. Thank you for bringing me here," he said.

"Yes, yes, Zim is amazing," replied the Irken, very pleased with himself.

Dib slipped off his sandals and pulled off his t-shirt, eager to get into the water. Zim removed his sundress, revealing a bright yellow one-piece bathing suit underneath.

They walked over to the water's edge and Dib dipped a toe in, relieved to find the liquid seemed perfectly harmless and the temperature refreshing. He quickly strode in further, until the water reached his chest and dove in, relishing in the feeling of the pure liquid. He glanced around for Zim and was surprised to see him still close to the water's edge, sitting in the shallow water and watching the human.

"What are you doing over there?" Called Dib. "Come on over, Zim, it feels great!"

"Ehh," Zim narrowed his eyes at the deeper water, biting his lip.

Dib stood up and walked back to the Irken, kneeling down beside him.

"What's wrong?" He asked gently. "Are you feeling okay? Is this water safe for Irkens?"

"Zim is fine," came the dismissive reply. "It's just…"

"Just…?"

"I'm very skilled, you know. I can do so much more than you, human. Zim is amazing and talented and athletic and-"

"And you can't swim, can you?" Dib cut in.

Zim looked away, lowering his head a little.

"Don't worry," Dib planted a soft kiss on the Irken's head. "I'll teach you. I'm sure someone as smart as you can pick it up fast."

Zim smiled and he turned back to face the human, leaning in to press their lips together. "Very well, you will teach Zim how to swim."

"Mmm."

They spent several minutes kissing then Dib gathered the alien into his arms and led them into deeper water.

It didn't take terribly long until Zim was able to swim on his own. Dib heaped praise on him and the Irken soaked it all up.

When Zim got tired of swimming, he grabbed onto Dib and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, resting his face against the human's shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, enjoying the contact, the sunshine and the calm waters.

"I love you," Dib murmured against long antenna.

"I know," replied the alien.

"Zim."

The alien snickered, then pressed closer to his human, his mouth against his companion's ear. "I love you too, Dib," he whispered.

A/N: That's all, folks! Thank you to everyone who followed, favourited, liked, reblogged, and especially those who reviewed! It all means a lot to me.