AN: Thanks to Invader Techno for following and favoriting
Chapter 9: Would This Be Considered a Date?
"Where you goin' Masta?" Gir asked with a giggle skipping up to Zim who was walking towards the door.
"I have scheduled a meeting with the Alice-human. I'll be back later." Zim said shoving a tiny heart-shaped chibi charm into his pocket.
"Daww. Masta's in love." Gir giggled.
"No Gir! For the last time Zim loves no one but ZIM!"
Gir just giggled and rolled his eyes running of to Irk knows where. Zim growled and stomped out the door.
…
"Really, Alice. I was fine." Ruby said, taking another bite of food.
"I still feel bad that I wasn't there to help you. You were unbelievably lucky that green dog thing saved you." Alice sighed as she walked around the house trying to find what she needed.
"Yeah, he's like one big plot convince and-whoa whoa whoa! Where are you going with all that stuff?" Ruby eyed her as Alice headed for the door with their bag stuffed with Alice's things, including her coat and notebook.
"I'm going out to meet up with Zim." Alice explained.
"Alright. Just be careful."
Alice rolled her eyes and nodded as she hopped off the front step. She dashed down the street with a smile on her face and more energy than she first thought she'd have. She was just meeting up with Zim so what was she so cheerful about? She didn't try to come up with a reason and she soon stopped in front of the park's entrance.
Red leaves crunched underneath her feet as she walked inside the dense patch of trees. A gust of wind blew through knocking another layer of leaves to the ground without a single sound. "I haven't actually walked through a park in years. I never did appreciate it." Alice sighed to herself.
She saw a bright red leaf floating down towards the ground in front of her and she quickly but gently snatched it out of the air. She looked at it and twirled it around in her fingers before reaching up and grabbing another one out of the air. She carefully stuck them into her bow and smiled, remembering all the autumn leaves she used to collect when she was little until her mom would make her throw them away.
"What are you doing?" She turned around and saw Zim walking up from behind her.
"I was just passing the time while I was waiting for you." Alice answered.
"Zim didn't expect you to be on time." Zim said giving her a suspicious glance.
"Well you said not to be late. So I wasn't." Alice shrugged.
"Well then, shall we continue with this assignment?" Zim muttered, trying really hard to sound pleasant.
Alice nodded silently and sat down on the park bench.
Zim sat next to her and growled to himself.
…
"So tell me about your family." Alice smiled.
Zim was growing impatient. It had been an hour already and he still didn't feel like he was establishing a bond with the Alice-creature.
"Zim has no family." Zim said, turning back to her.
"Oh, sorry." Alice muttered.
"What about you human?"
"I don't really have one either. It's just me and my little sister." Alice shrugged.
"I guess that's something we have in common."
"I suppose." Zim shrugged.
Alice sighed and looked up at the sky. Through the trees she saw gray clouds beginning to block out their sunlight. "Looks like it's going to rain soon." She muttered to herself.
Zim turned to her with a hint of panic in his eyes. "Rain?" he gulped silently remembering that he had neglected to apply water protection today. Or in other words he forgot to take a bath in Elmer's glue which covered his pores to keep water from getting in and injuring him.
"Yeah. And hard. Those clouds are ready to burst." Alice continued which did not help ease Zim's fears.
"Then perhaps we should seek shelter." he said.
Alice smirked at his sudden nervousness and grabbed her bag. "C'mon. We'll go find somewhere to hang out so we can stay dry."
Zim nodded and stood up as a small charm fell out of his pocket and hit the pavement with a small clink. "What's that?" Alice cocked her head while Zim picked it up. "Oh this? It's a little charm I got from an old friend of mine." Zim smirked.
"Aww. That's a really cute charm. Let's get going" Alice smiled pulling towards him out of the park and towards the city.
By the time the sky over them was completely covered by storm clouds they had a Crazy Taco restaurant in their sights.
"I'll race ya. Last one to the taco place gets soaked!" Alice called dashing down the sidewalk.
She grinned as Zim fell behind her. Or so she assumed. When she looked to her side Zim was right there next to her and quickly gaining the lead. Alice tried to keep up but soon Zim was way ahead of her. Small drops started to hit the pavement as Zim skidded to a halt under the awning.
The rain started to fall harder with every passing second. By the time Alice made her way to the safety of the awning over the building she was drenched.
"Victory! Victory for Zim!" Zim cheered raising his fists to the sky.
Alice growled at him and flicked the drops of water on her hand at his face. He let out a loud girly yelp and Alice smirked at him. "Don't ruin Zim's victory with your losing soreness human!" Zim whined.
Alice giggled under her breath and started to wring out her hair and dress. "Alright let's go inside. I'm getting cold." Alice shivered opening the door.
Zim marched in and Alice walked in behind him rolling her eyes. Zim gagged at the repulsive place and Alice pulled him to a relatively clean booth by the windows.
…
"You really did that?!" Alice asked in amazement quickly writing down what Zim had told her.
"Of course. But then my instructor stopped letting Zim use most of the equipment." Zim said proudly.
Alice smiled and finished writing down her notes.
"Man will this rain ever let up? It's been like two hours." she sighed staring out the window. "Ugh. Gir probably destroyed everything already." Zim growled. "I must find some way to get back to my house."
Alice's eyes suddenly lit up and she quickly started digging through her bag. "Ha! I knew I bought this!" Alice smiled triumphantly holding up a folded up black umbrella.
"What will a rod do to help this situation?" Zim asked sounding impatient.
"It's an umbrella stupid." Alice laughed.
"Zim is not stupid!" Zim pouted crossing his arms over his chest.
Alice rolled her eyes and grabbed Zim's arms pulling him out of the table and towards the door. Zim ripped himself from her grip and glared at her as she slipped on her jacket.
"So do you really not know what an umbrella is?" Alice asked.
"Of course I know!" Zim snapped. "It's a...uh…" he pondered.
"It's to keep us from getting wet outside." Alice smirked opening it up.
"Zim knew that!" Zim snatched the umbrella from her hands and held it over his head cautiously stepping out into the downpour. Alice walked next to him watching the rain drip off their small cloth and metal water shield.
"Why are you standing so close to me human?" Zim asked as they stopped at a crosswalk.
Alice blushed. "I'm just trying to stay dry too." she said grabbing a part of the handle.
"Well...just...not too close!" Zim growled.
"Personal space issues much?" Alice asked.
"Zim has no issues." Zim grumbled.
The two for the most part walked in an awkward silence until they reached Zim's house. "Wow." Alice muttered staring up at the tall green house with a purple roof and large garden gnomes in the front yard.
"You are impressed by Zim's home yes?" Zim asked with a cocky smirk.
"It's certainly...original." Alice shrugged with a smile.
Zim beamed with over-flowing amounts of pride as they walked up onto the doorstep.
"Y'know Zim, for a guy with a stick up his butt most of the time, this was nice." Alice smiled.
"Eh? Zim has no Earth tree limb up my-"
"No! I didn't mean it like you really...I just had fun talking with you." Alice finally sighed.
Zim nodded in understanding and the two stared at each other for an awkward moment before Alice spoke again. "Well...I guess I'll see you at Skool Monday. Bye!" she waved walking down the pathway towards the street as Zim went inside.
He watched her walk down the street with her umbrella in hand and bag bouncing at her side with its contents held securely inside. He continued to eye her from the window until she disappeared around the corner.
Zim chuckled to himself and it grew into a loud evil laugh that echoed through the base.
"What's so funny Master?" Gir asked walking into the room.
"My bait has been set Gir! Soon the Alice-beast will be the key to completing our mission on this planet and bringing the human race to its knees!" Zim grinned evilly.
"Yay! Mastah's gonna have babies!"
"GIR!"
…
Ruby opened her eyes as she heard the door open and Alice stepped into the room as she finished yawning and stretching.
"Man, I'm beat. Who knew you can get so tired just talking with someone?" Alice muttered giving Ruby a pet.
"So I'm guessing the date went well." Ruby smirked.
"It wasn't a date! If you're wondering I got plenty of information for my paper and I think Zim got the same thing." Alice said dropping the bag on the floor.
Ruby dug through everything but just before she could grab the notebook full of Alice's notes Alice snatched it. "Will you stop pairing me up with a mutual friend I have for ONE day?"
Ruby let out an annoyed huff. "Well if you two aren't a couple then why the hell is THIS in here?" Ruby asked pulling out a certain little charm with her mouth.
"Hey! Gimme that!" Alice yanked it out of her mouth and Ruby beamed.
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! You got that for your little crush didn't you!"
"No this isn't mine!"
"Then who's is it?"
"...Ah crap!"
AN: Don't ask me why Gir thinks Zim is in a relationship now. It's Gir people. XD
