thanks for the reviews and reads~

yes, purple is clueless lol

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Normal POV [yes I have to put this...helps me get started...]

He strode to the Pilot station as gracefully as he could manage, his thoughts muddling even more and more as he grew closer and closer to his destination, trying not to appear nerves else the other Elites would sense his fear and rip him apart. It didn't take as long as he'd hoped and he held back a groan. Not wanting to be questioned as to why he was standing akwardly outside the door, he strode in, quickly moving to reach his goal.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke. "Red?"

Red perked up, shaken from his boredom. Turning around, he was surprised to see Zim standing behind him. Breath was torn from him as he quickly stood, stunned. "Z-Zim...What are you doing here?"

"You said to look for you after I had thought about everything,"

"And?"

"Can you leave early? So we can talk?"

"Of course! But...don't you have training?"

"I was excused for the day," Without saying another word, Zim headed to the door, expecting Red to follow him.

Which he did. Red didn't see the odd look given to him from Skooge who was still seated at his simulation. He was too focused on catching up to Zim in the hallway. When he finally was walking in step with the smaller Irken, he looked to try and read the expression on Zim's face, a little nervous that it seemed...impassive... "So, Zim...What did you want to-"

"It's not okay to talk yet," Zim interupted, his voice soft but firm. "The cafeteria may have others...Purple is in training, and Spork may try to go to my room to see if I'm okay. We'll need to use your room. Is that alright with you?"

Red blushed lightly at the idea of Zim being in his chambers and had to clear his throat. "Y-yes...That should be fine..."

Zim nodded in confirmation. "Lead the way then,"

It took everything Red had not to pick Zim up so he could sprint to the room. Instead he went against every instinct to walk calmly, trying not to picture all sorts of vivid things he'd fantasized about countless times when alone.

It was a bitter triumph when the reached the room, Red punching in the code and then stepping aside to allow Zim to enter first. Zim muttered a small thank you before looking about and finally taking a seat on what he figured was Red's bed since the other had various bags of unopened snacks and such on it (obviously a small meal for later).

Red bit back a groan. Zim on his bed... "Um...So, now that...that no one can overhear us, what did you want to talk about?"

"Purple came to my room to wake me earlier," Zim began, still blank-faced. "He told me some things about you that I didn't bother knowing before..."

"O-oh?"

"And it made me feel...like I was unfair to you," Zim looked to the ground, obviously feeling uncomfortable. "Red...will you please sit down? You're making me nervous..."

"Yeah, sure..." Red moved to sit beside Zim, the other still not looking at him, but at least there was some sort of fimiliar expression on his face...even if it was a somewhat saddened one. "Zim...I don't want you to feel guilty,"

"It's not guilt. It's just..." Zim sighed. It was silent for a while before he got up the courage to actually look at the crimson-eyed Irken, that gaze locked instantly with his own. It was unwavering and...there was something there...Zim couldn't help but compare it to the look Spork always gave him...And it made him remember the things Purple said all the more clearly. Zim closed his eyes, trying to block out the gaze that wasn't golden and yet making him feel dizzy. "It's just...all-consuming," he admitted finally. "Red, you've become something I always think about,"

"Now you know sort of how I feel about you," Red commented, smiling softly.

It wasn't supposed to be a hurtful comment but Zim's cardiac-spooch still lurched painfully in his chest. Maybe this was a mistake...coming here... He opened his eyes, that crimson gaze still on his own. Or maybe...the mistake was before that... "Red, what are you doing to me?"

"What do you mean?" Red's smile left him as he saw Zim's pleading face.

"I mean what are you doing making me think you hate me for so long and then...tearing me between two...?" Zim's voice nearly gave out as he looked away again. It was so shameful to admit this...

"Two? What are you...?" Red's eyes went wide as it sunk in. "Zim...Are you saying that-"

"Please don't make me repeat it..." Zim begged. "I already feel cheap enough,"

"Cheap? Why on Irk would you feel cheap?"

"Because it's wrong, Red!" Zim exclaimed, standing from the bed to gain some distance, needing it at the moment. "Don't you see it? Elites...They can't be involved in relationships during training! And Smallers can't be with Tallers! I shouldn't be thinking things about either of you! But..." Zim held back a screech of desperation as he turned his back to Red, fighting the urge to throw and kick and scream.

Red's jaw was slack as he watched on. "Zim..." He stood, pulling Zim to face him, those desperate pink eyes shimmering with unshed tears of frustration. "Zim, look...It...This all might be frowned on, but...it doesn't change anything. It doesn't change how I...and how Spork...how we feel about you,"

"Red..." He was so torn. That look in Red's eyes...it was going to drive him mad! Why on Irk couldn't he look away?

"And even if it's frowned on...you haven't changed your mind on how you feel about us either...have you?"

Zim swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. He didn't know whether to confirm or deny it.

Red took Zim's silence as permission to continue. "Zim...I don't care if I get expelled from the Academy. I don't care if I'm put on trial or I get banished. I'm not going to deny to anyone how I feel about you. Even if...you don't choose me," The thought of Zim being with someone made him horribly depressed, but seeing Zim happy was more important than seeing him as...Red's. "I've been thinking, too...And...the only reason that...I would ever accept seeing you with Spork...aside from being happy, of course...is that, with him being Tallest soon...you wouldn't have to worry about having to choose between a life of discrimination and one of punishment,"

Zim was floored. He never expected Red to be so genuine with him...To treat him so kindly with such honest words... "Red..." Finally a tear escaped him, unable to blink it back as he did the others. "I don't want you to be banished because of me,"

"I won't be banished because of you," Red corrected. "I would be banished because of a stupid reason: falling in love with someone who needs love more than anyone else. And if I have to be punished because of that, then...I don't want to be a part of an Empire like that anyway," He brushed the tear away from Zim's cheeks, relieved when the other didn't pull away and instead relaxed to the contact. He smiled softly, pulling Zim close to his chest, embracing him.

Zim, exhausted, practically collapsed into the contact. He clung to Red like a life-line, finding it so different compared to the yellow-clad taller. "Red..." It left his lips like a prayer now. "What do I do know...?"

Red sighed as he thought of what to say. He knew the right answer...He didn't want to say it, but he felt that it was right. "You...go to Spork," He could feel Zim's lekku twitch in confusion. "You need to figure out who makes you happier. I know I'm a little...behind in that, but...I sure do hope I can make up for lost time," He pulled back just enough to press a gentle kiss against Zim's right lekku before speaking again. "I just want you to be happy, Zim,"

Zim pulled back and looked up at Red, seeing that the other had to force the small smile. Zim frowned at that. "I hate it..." Red narrowed an eye in question. "I hate it when you look like that. You're supposed to be strong,"

"Now you know how I feel when you're sad, then," Red replied, not missing a beat.

Zim couldn't help but smile, a weak laugh escaping him. "You notice everything about me, don't you?"

"Just the things I love about you," Red mused aloud, grinning now. "So, yes. Everything,"

Zim couldn't help but smile like an idiot at the comment, blushing a bit. He felt a little stupid, really...Standing there almost in tears one minute and the next smiling like he didn't have a care in the world. Red just seemed to make him feel so many things all at once.. "Thank you, Red,"

The crimson-eyed taller felt his cardiac-spooch jump as he took in Zim's smile. Not sarcastic, not evil, not just to be polite, not weakened...It was soft and vulnerable, making him suddenly hyper aware of the fact that Zim was still in his arms and making no effort to run away.

And then he couldn't stop himself. He leaned down and pressed his lips to Zim's, letting his eyes slip shut as sudden bliss overwhelmed him. Zim's lips were so soft, so welcoming...

It was even better when Zim kissed back.

Oooooooooooooooo

omg Zim, wtf?!

Lol

plz review...