Chapter 9: I Love You
After a few minutes in that position, Zim finally stopped crying and sat up. His face was red and tearstained, his eyes puffy from the salty sweet tears. Dib frowned sadly at the Irken, as he reached a hand up and tried wiping away most of the tears.
"You OK?" He asked him.
Zim sniffed and nodded.
"Yeah. Yeah I think so."
"Are you sure? That thing didn't hurt you or anything, did it?"
"I don't think so." Zim shook his head. "I'm pretty sure I would've felt it if it did. Those things got razor teeth, Dib."
"Yeah, I noticed." Dib nodded.
The two of them sat there in silence, unsure of what to do now. Zim sniffed again, and laid his head on Dib's shoulder.
"Thanks for coming to my rescue, Dib."
Dib blushed as the alien laid on his shoulder. He sighed and smiled, placing his arm around him.
"Of course, Zim." He smiled. "I couldn't just sit back and watch that thing tear at you. Man, what an awful way to go."
"You said it." Zim agreed, giving a great big yawn.
"I don't think we'll be going to skool today." Dib shook his head. "You're too exhausted, and right now, I don't feel comfortable about leaving you alone."
"That's very sweet of you Dib." Zim smiled tiredly.
"Don't think nothing of it." Dib chuckled as he stood up.
Dib stood up and bent down, picking up Zim bridle style, and carried him to his bedroom. When he got to the bedroom, he placed the alien in the bed and covered him up.
"Try to get some sleep. Then we'll figure this out."
"OK Dib." Zim nodded as he yawned. "I'll see you when I wake up."
With that, Zim fell asleep, knocked out cold as Dib grabbed Pam from the crib and quietly snuck out of the room, turning out the light and closing the door as he left.
When Dib turned around, he nearly jumped out of his shoes. Gir and Minimoose were standing behind him, both had very worried expressions on their faces.
It was weird, because as far as Dib and Zim knew, only Gir knew about the Night Blights.
"I told Minimoose everything." Gir explained. "He knows about the Blights now too, Mary."
Dib sighed and nodded. Of course he knew now. Gir didn't know how to keep his mouth shut.
"Let's talk downstairs." The human suggested. "Zim's sleeping, and we don't want to disturb him, right?"
The two robots nodded as they all went downstairs to the living room.
"Master was almost killed last night, wasn't he?" Gir asked as they all sat on the couch.
Dib sighed, knowing he had to tell the truth.
"Yes Gir, he was. A Blight almost ate him last night."
"I knew something bad was going to happen!" Gir's eyes turned red with anger. "But did he listen? No! Nobody ever listens to the crazy robot!"
"Gir, you need to calm down." Dib assured. "You're starting to sound like me a little bit."
"Meep." Minimoose agreed.
"I'm sorry Mary." Gir sighed, his eyes turning blue again. "I'm just worried, is all."
"You and me both, Gir." Dib nodded before sighing. "Gosh, Zim is so stubborn sometimes. I offered to help him yesterday, and he rejected it."
"Yeah well, look how far that's gotten him." Gir agreed.
"I guess I can't give him all the blame though, he did have a really good reason to reject."
"And what's that?" Gir asked curiously.
"Well, he said he didn't want me to get hurt." Dib explained. "He said, that if I help, the Blights will come after me, and he doesn't want that."
"It's because he loves you, Dib." Gir nodded, suddenly calling the human by his real name. "He has for a long time now. He just didn't want to admit it."
"... For how long?" Dib asked, blushing a bit.
"Well, he's been in love with you since… since that incident with the giant hamster."
"You mean hamstergeddon?!" Dib gasped.
"That's the one." Gir nodded. "He was kinda torn when you were confused about either saving him or exposing him when he was unconscious. He also felt very touched when you protected him against those military men."
"Gosh, he's been in love with me for that long?" Dib blushed.
"Mmm-hmm." Gir nodded. "He just didn't know how to say it."
Dib was shocked. How could Zim love him that long and just keep it a well secret until now?!
"I just, don't believe it." He shook his head.
"So… now you know."
Dib jumped when he heard Zim's voice. He looked up to see the alien shyly leaning against the doorframe, one foot crossed over the other, with his hands clasped behind his back and his face burning red.
"Zim, what are you doing up?!" Dib gasped. "You should be resting."
"... I can't sleep." Zim answered truthfully as he sat on the couch next to the human. "Not until I'm sure those monsters are gone for good."
"Yeah, well. You know how that's gonna be." Dib sighed.
The two of them sat on the couch in an awkward silence.
"You know you're going to have to accept my help now… Right?" Dib challenged.
"Yes Dib, I know." Zim sighed.
It was silent once more, until Zim did something Dib really did not expect.
Zim looked up at the human, their eyes locking on each other. Zim blushed a deep red as he quickly puckered his lips and gave Dib a shy kiss on the lips.
Dib's blush was MADDENING!
His first kiss was just by an ALIEN who was a MALE and was supposed to be his ENEMY!
"I just thought I'd make it official." Zim sighed as he scooted away a little bit. "Since Gir has already told you pretty much everything."
"Pretty much?" Dib frowned in confusion.
"He has dreams about you Dib." Gir answered.
"GIR!" Zim cried out, his face becoming redder by the second.
Gir laughed, soon joined by Minimoose. The two boys continued to blush, unable to look at each other. Finally, Dib sighed.
"Zim…" He sighed, getting the alien's attention. "Do you love me?"
Zim blushed and dropped his antennae, turning his head away.
"Zim?"
"... Yes, Dib." Zim finally sighed, looking back at the human. "Yes I do love you."
When Dib did not respond, Zim sighed sadly, closing his eyes and turning his head away.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his chin, turning his face back. He opened his eyes and his antennae perked up when he saw it was Dib who was touching him. The human's face was a deep red, as he closed his eyes and puckered his lips, landing them perfectly onto Zim's.
Zim gasped as his human crush kissed him. His whole body shook with pleasure as he closed his eyes and kissed back.
After a few seconds, Dib pulled back, a smile on his face.
"That's all I needed to hear."
Zim giggled like a little skool girl before they crashed lips a second time, silently agreeing that they would help each other from now.
Starting with tonight.
