Dlbn: Hey there, everyone! Time for another update of Keefvine! (Cheers) This chapter is actually the length it was supposed to be. No shorter, no longer. Yays!
Nbld: Thank you to YaoiGirly, Captor of the Crazies, Servant of Time, Invader Krys, Lady Luck, and Itachi-Uchiha13 for reviewing! "Keefvine" fan art for you all! (I wish. I still can't draw well. XD)
YaoiGirly: I don't know where I get this stuff. It kind of just comes out. Like vomit. ^^
Captor of the Crazies: That sounds like a plan to me! I never saw Signs in full though…Membrane needs some sense knocked into him. (Hits Membrane with a mallet) I'm not sure if that helped. I think he's just unconscious. Membrane? (Pokes him with her toe) Yeah, he's unconscious. O.O
Servant of Time: I know, right? Well, he's not really explored in the show, so I made him smart too. Krill and Zim will have their moments together. I think it's interesting to see how they'd react to each other now that Zim knows who Krill is. Yes, the waitress was a bitch. But, then again, a lot of homophobes seem to be sometimes. When homosexuals are involved, at least. She is never coming back, but she was just there to move things along and give Keyvine and Keef their set up for conversation. I'd "Squee" like a fan girl, too. If I ever see my friend with a boyfriend, I'll have to fight to hold myself back. Lol.
Invader Krys: Keef is an interesting person with a fabulous wardrobe. I sort of want it. XD. Yes, Krill tries to be all crafty and sneaky, but he's not. We all know he's a bit of a moron in this case. Lol. I try using bug lotion. Never helps. Spray works better in my case. ^^
Lady Luck: That's okay! No signing in is required. ^^. I hope the manager gave the person who was acting like that a stern talking to. Or an ass-kicking. I don't get why people are so offended. I find it more disgusting when a straight couple makes out. (Considering that in high school, everyone who was dating was in the halls making out and eating each other's necks during the break between classes. Shudder)
Itachi-Uhichia13: That's okay, don't worry about it! Making cosplays is fun. Very time consuming, but fun. My friend's took forever. She was Aqua from Kingdom Hearts: BBS. Sadly, I didn't get to go to the con she was wearing it to, to see what it looked like finished, because of her. Oh well. I know someone who's being Russia from Hetalia. The female version, though. We were discussing it on Saturday. LOL. Running away from scary ice cream men. No one can blame you. "Freak-In-Training". Love it. I do my own nails. It's cheaper then a salon. It normally only lasts a couple days though. (Looks at chipping off nail polish) I don't remember ever going to a Pep Rally. The closest we had was 'Respect Day', in which people performed while other people ignored and disrespected them. (Ironic, no?) I hate people that do that, too. It's like, if you have a problem, then don't look. But don't take it out on the poor people who are just trying to enjoy their date.
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated in honor of the fact that NY, the shitty state I live in, has finally done something right and legalized gay marriage! Though I don't quite understand the term 'legalize' in this case. There's nothing in the legal system saying it was ever illegal. Shouldn't have been in the first place, in my opinion. But, anyway, this chapter is dedicated in honor of that little fact. ^^
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Keyvine/Krill, the plot, The Mask (Oh wait, that isn't in here…yet.), the Slerks, and that's about it. Invader Zima nd anything related to it belong to Jhonen C Vasquez and he is FABULOUS!
000
Keyvine walked Keef to his door. The two of them stood on his small porch.
"So…I guess this is goodnight?" Keef asked. "I had a great time."
"So did I." Keyvine smiled softly. "Except for the waitress." Maybe he'd pay her a little visit later with his SIR unit…
"Well, yeah, but who cares? She's just another ignorant fool whose out of our lives."
"Exactly." Keyvine nodded. "Well, I shouldn't keep you out here long. Wouldn't want to keep your family waiting up for you."
"They can wait." Keef giggled. "Would you wanna come in? Have some hot cocoa or something?"
"No, that's okay." Keyvine declined. "I have to get home, anyway. My parents don't want me out too late."
"Oh, okay." Keef's voice dripped with disappointment, but he still held a smile on his face. "So I'll talk to you later and see you in school Monday, right?"
"Right."
Keef looked like he was going to lean closer, but Keyvine started to back up towards the porch stairs. He smiled at Keef before he tripped over the edge and rolled down three steps, landing in a perfect crouch.
"Oops." He said.
Keef giggled. "Nice moves, Mr. Bond."
Keyvine laughed, though he didn't get the reference. Cursed Earth culture…He stood.
"Well…now that I've fully embarrassed myself, I'll get going." He jutted a thumb over his shoulder.
"Okay." Keef smiled. "Bye."
"Bye." Keyvine walked down the walkway to the driveway. He heard the door open slowly when he was at the end of the walkway. He sighed. "Wait, Keef."
"Yes?" Keef turned around. His hand fell from the doorknob.
Keyvine ran back up the driveway and up the stairs. He pulled Keef close by the waist and leaned in, pressing his lips to the boy's. Keef's eyes were wide as he registered the kiss, wrapping his arms around Keyvine's neck and running his tongue against the disguised Irken's mouth. Keyvine allowed his mouth to open up and his tongue to meet the younger male's. They separated and Keyvine pressed his forehead to Keef's.
"I wouldn't feel right leaving without a kiss." Keyvine whispered.
"I wouldn't either." Keef giggled and pecked Keyvine on the lips. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Keef went inside before Keyvine left. After shutting his front door, Keef leaned his back on it. His eyes closed as he smiled. "I'm in love…"
Keyvine skipped down the driveway and spun in a circle once he hit the end. "Yes!"
000
When school came around again, Zim spent half of his day wondering if it was good to interrogate Krill more, and the other half being completely happy for Keef's success with his date. He'd given Zim a little bit too many details. Zim didn't need to know how soft Krill's teeth were, or how good his tongue felt against Keef's. Zim had kissed him before. He knew what it was like to kiss Krill…er…Keyvine.
Zim bumped into someone on his way for the bathroom. He looked up to see Keyvine smiling at him.
"Hey there Zim!" He ruffled Zim's hair as he passed.
"Uh…what's up with you?" Zim asked.
"Hm?" Keyvine turned on his heel and smiled. "I'm afraid that I have no idea what you are talking about, my Prince."
"You can't call me that at school, idiot."
"Sorry, I guess I'm just in a good mood!" He spun on his heel. "You're Keef's best friend, so he probably told you I kissed him, right?"
"Yeah, he told me. He gave me all the details. Even ones I didn't wanna know."
Keyvine flushed. "He told you I'm a good kisser, then? You should know that, shouldn't you? Or did you forget?" He laughed. "It's only been a couple months."
"Maybe back home. Here it's been about 6."
"Whatever you say." Keyvine beamed. "Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just happy."
"I can tell." Zim said. "We normally don't interact this much."
Keyvine walked back to Zim's side. "I miss talking to you." He said. "You're a good conversationalist."
"Thanks, I think." Zim informed. "I wouldn't do well as an Invader, I guess. I talk too much."
"No, that's not what I meant." Keyvine looped an arm around Zim's neck and walked him down the hall. "I mean you're easy to talk to, and you're a good listener. It makes for good conversation."
Zim shrugged him off. "Thanks." He said. "So I take it you enjoyed your date, too?"
Keyvine nodded. "Except for the waitress." He said. "I was fixing to take my SIR over there and teach her a lesson, but I held myself."
"Good. No need to stir trouble when you're already on the run." Zim confirmed.
"You guessed it." He agreed. "I wasn't thinking that at the time, though." He paused. "But anyway, what's up with you? You and your boyfriend do anything special?"
"Not really. Just looked at some pictures." Zim responded. "Hey, can I ask you something? About the Slerks?"
Keyvine's smile faded into a frown. "Why?"
"I overheard some people at the Labs talking about how those 'things', as they call them, are getting closer and closer to Earth."
Keyvine seemed alarmed, but his face didn't show it. "Oh?"
Zim nodded. "Yea. Is there any way that they can track you or something? I mean, maybe we'll be lucky and they'll pass us by?"
"They're probably going to run a scan of every planet they cross. They'll look for Irken technology and then I'm screwed." Keyvine sighed. "Just when my life was getting good, huh? Maybe I should split…"
"You should stop running." Zim informed. "The worst they'll do is confront you. How much weaponry and technology can they have? They're docile, right?"
"Most of the time." Keyvine shrugged one shoulder.
"So you don't have much to worry about. You can take um. You're an Irken Invader, no?"
Keyvine smiled. "Yea." He nodded slowly at the first, then faster. "Yes, I am. And I'll be damned if I let the Slerks chase me out of here. That would be pathetic."
"Very." Zim nodded. "So…may I ask you something else?"
"Sure, I guess."
"What did you do to piss them off?"
"Oh." A pause. "I told you I can't go into detail on that."
"What if it saves this planet? And everyone on it? Including Keef?"
Keyvine paused. "Sorry. I love him, but I can't tell you. It's not like they're going to be here soon."
"Anywhere from a couple months to a couple weeks." Zim answered. "It depends on how fast they're moving and how thorough the scans they're running are."
"Well, that gives us a time frame at least. Let me know when they're a couple weeks away and we'll figure it out." Keyvine patted Zim's shoulder and walked the other way.
"We need to figure it out now. Before it's too late."
"I'll meet you at the park and we'll talk about it there, okay? Not at school."
"Krill…"
"Sorry, but my mind is made up." Keyvine answered. "Oh…and do come alone."
Zim watched Keyvine leave down the hall before going down the way he was intending to go.
000
That night, Zim met Keyvine at the park by the swings.
"You better not be planning anything, Krill." Zim told him.
"I'm just planning to talk." Keyvine sat down on the swing nearest him. He wrapped his hand around the chain holding up the swing and pushed himself back and forth a bit with his toe.
"So what happened? And don't beat your way around the bush, either." Zim sat next to him.
"I won't." Keyvine answered. "Alright. You probably know that I left early that night. I was sent out early because the Slerks were getting wise to the plans to take them over. That resistance. The Resisty, I think?"
"That's a…"
"Dumb name, I know." Keyvine agreed. "Anyway, I was shipped out early. Everything was fine. I landed, we made a base, and I began my mission."
"So what went wrong?"
"I'm not even sure." Keyvine shrugged. "Everything was okay, but the next thing I know, there are Slerks busting down the door to my base, and me and my SIR are scrambling out with our lives and whatever the Slerks didn't raze to the ground."
"So you just basically came here with your SIR, your ship, and your life."
"I had my hologram watch, though I can just use a disguise machine."
"I'm not sure it's called…"
"Don't worry about the technical terms." Keyvine sighed. "I flew out this way, knowing it was uncharted and that the Slerks would have a real hard time following me. But I guess I was wrong."
"Did they try to kill you?" Zim asked.
Keyvine shrugged. "It seemed like it, but my translator said that they were talking about capturing me and getting information. I don't really remember much. I was just concerned about escaping with as much Irken equipment as I could."
A moment of silence passed between them.
"I hope you're telling me the truth." Zim said finally.
"The honest to Slerek truth." Keyvine nodded.
"So what can we do? They obviously just want you and, as an Irken, I can't allow that to happen anymore then you can allow it to happen."
"I know." Keyvine sighed and dug his toe into the sand under the swing. "I'm at a loss. I can't call your mother, because I'd get in trouble for bailing on my mission. And you and I are powerless to do anything. I'm not about to let you get hurt."
Zim smiled softly. "I'm not about to let that happen, either."
Keyvine lightly slugged his shoulder. "That's sweet." He said. He stood. "I won't keep you long, Zim. Your boyfriend is probably waiting for you to go home."
"Yeah, he is."
"Want me to drive you?" Keyvine twirled keys around his finger. "I converted my ship to a car with my hologram projector."
"Hologram machine." Zim corrected him, a cocky smirk plastered on his face.
"Oh shut up." Keyvine laughed.
Zim followed him to the car. The ride to Membrane Labs was completely silent. They pulled up to the front gate and a guard came out.
"I'm sorry, sir, but this is a restricted area." The guard said.
"Oh, I'm just dropping him off." Keyvine said, as Zim got out of the car.
The Prince showed the guard the security clearance badge around his neck.
"Oh, Zim." The guard greeted. "Go on in."
"Just give me a minute." Zim leaned down to the open passenger window. "Thanks for the ride, Keyvine." He said. "We'll figure this out soon. Don't worry."
"Thanks." Keyvine smiled. "So should I just back out of here?"
"Yeah, if you can."
"Alright. Good night. See you in school tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Night."
"Night."
Zim backed away and entered the gate before Keyvine drove off in reverse. Keyvine waved as he drove off. Zim waved back.
"Should I call you a car?" The guard asked.
"No, I can walk." Zim told the guard. "Thanks, though."
He entered the building, thoughts raging in his mind. Was there more to what Krill had said? Had he left anything out? More importantly, was it all a lie? For now, Zim had to tell dib what he'd learned.