The human's fingers clacked nosily away at the damp keyboard, praying that his battery power lasted long enough to get the transmission through. The little light was already beeping at Dib as a warning, but with a final press of the enter button, a loading bar popped up and made itself known. Not too long now.

Dib straightened himself up; instinctively knowing he looked as if he'd been run over ten times, kicked around, attacked by a giant squid and then left out in the rain. A shaky hand ran itself through tangled dark locks. Contacting powerful leaders and looking like road kill was about as humiliating as it got. But, still he knew it didn't matter.

"For Zim." Dib whispered, frowning down at the screen, as it splashed bleaching blue color on his already pale skin. The loading bar reached 100 and with a final ominous beep he was shown the Tallest's control room where the two leaders sat, chins lifted, dressed in heavy armor as if awaiting an attack at any second. Even while eating noisily they managed to be extremely intimidating.

Twin pairs of eyes, each different a color but with the same intensity roved over what they could see on their giant screen, obviously dismissing it as unimportant even before speaking. "What do you want? And how did you get this transmission code, Worm?" The Red one spoke first.

"Yeah." The other added, sounding irritated, but it was hard to tell over the sound of his chewing.

Dib straightened himself up, blinking a few times to clear his vision of any leftover rain drops or tears. "Greetings. I am Dib. The only reason I have called you is for one of your soldiers. He is…dead." His voice cracked with the word. The leaders seemed confused, as they racked their brains for any solider who was on Planet Earth. The only one they could think of who this alien would be talking about would be the bane of their existence. The two shared a look.

"Solider? Do you mean, Zim?" Red asked slowly. One because this inferior being might not understand him otherwise and two because he was afraid to hope. Dib nodded, grimly.

Silence. Purple suddenly threw his doughnuts up in the air, wooing for joy. "Quick someone!" He snapped his two fingers. "Break out the Vortian alcohol! You, sound the alarms! Tell everyone the good news! We need the loudest music you can find! We're gonna party till the Jaloksnaufs come home!" Red grinned and lifted his co-ruler's chin, rubbing their nose less faces together in an affectionate way.

"Finally, Pur! We can put all those decorations to good use!"The two of them jumped-up from their thrones and ran out giggling. The transmission cut off with a loud buzzing noise, followed by static.

It reflected off of Dib's glasses. Dib who sat frozen, still staring at the screen in disbelief. Dib who was suddenly breathing incredibly hard and Dib who was shaking violently, lifting the lab top and throwing it as hard against the tree as he could.

It exploded, breaking into several pieces. Still Dib felt as if he could've done it again and again till there was nothing left. He put his face into his hands and fought back the urge to sob. He didn't do very well. Soon, the boy's frame was racked with heavy tears and choking curses.

He'd failed. Failed Zim in this last thing. Failed his enemy. His friend and husband.

Yes he'd contacted them…but they were happy about it! He'd ruined Zim's memory. Dib bit down on his bottom lip, feeling worthless and ridiculous and cold as hell. Sniffing hard, he shuddered and after much deliberation decided it was time to go. Time to stand up and keep going as he had always done before. It wouldn't be the same without Zim…but he would worry about that when he was back home and not soaking wet.

Nodding to himself, almost comfortingly, Dib stood and opened his eyes. Standing across from him in the shine of the head lights was the alien. Burning slightly from the rain, jade skin and blue blood. The maroon dress torn to shreds and the wig discarded on the side of the road. Zim's arms were crossed as he grinned at the human, lightly pink teeth shining deviously.

"Hello, Stink-Brain."

Dib's mouth fell open as he took in the Irken's lithe form, the cab behind him whose door was ajar. Bill waved from inside awkwardly. "Zim?" Could this be a dream? A demented hallucination? It could be, he thought. But even if it was…Dib began running toward the alien, he wasn't stopping.

As the human barred toward him, Zim made a face, feeling a hint of alarm take a hold of him at the desperate expression on the other's face. Still he made no move to jump out of way.

Dib scooped Zim up and held the alien to his chest. A sense of a puzzle clicking into the right place went through the human and he held Zim tighter. Almost too tight.

Said Irken squeaked at the hard, almost suffocating hold and frowned. "Okay, okay. You had your joyous reunion of filth. Now let Zim go!" He demanded, ready to bitch slap the other if he did not do as he said. Dib let the alien go.

Zim sputtered as he stumbled on the muddy ground, glaring. "I'll have you know, Monkey-Face, that I have driven fifty miles in that," A hand waved flamboyantly at the cab, "horrible contraption with the driver drone! Just to get here. Feel honored, Dib-Stink cause it's a miracle that the Zim is alive at all! My Pak restarted. But barley! And now I'm standing out in the rain! Horrible. Do you know how hard it's going to be to repair all of this and wash the mud stains out of this dr-mmppf." Dib grabbed the alien's chin and pressed their lips together. He put all the hurt, pain, loyalty and new found form of love into the embrace. He'd never kissed anyone before but Zim's lips felt oddly familiar. As if he'd done this before.

The Irken's disguised eyes went wide, so wide that hints of magenta could be seen. The thought entered his mind that he should push the child away and maybe kick him for good measure. Then something hard nibble at his top lip and his gaze went cross eyed. Okay…maybe just a few minutes more.

Zim felt a gross, horrible twitch in the center of his squeedely spooch. A spasm really. It infused his cold body with warmth, driving away the pain of death and the fear he'd never admit to feeling. The panic to catch the human before he left Vegas and him, behind.

Dib moaned into the kiss, sliding his other hand down Zim's body until he reached the other's claws, intertwining their fingers. The class ring was cold and wet. Still there. His love grew. As it would continue to grow. As his lust and hatred would too.

Zim's hand tightened around the warm digits of his human and he finally felt his eyes flutter shut. This was stupid. Stupid…but nice. Maybe…they would do this more often. Only on his command of course. They were married after all.

Bill ran a hand through his hair, slumping back in the seat of his car, and closing his eyes. It had been a long night. Still he was glad he'd taken the route where he'd found Dib. Glad to have helped these two….be whatever they were. A small smile had his lips curling. Guess he better wait until they were done…uh, doing whatever it was they were doing. They would need a ride