Ah~

I feel like I have to give props to two very special reviews.

They both been reviewing on every chapter I've uploaded, and one of them reviewed on every story I ever wrote.

Ngrey652 and Invader Johnny

Mad props to you both!

I don't normally respond to individual reviewers, but without the two of you, this story wouldn't have gotten any attention and I would have deleted the whole thing a looooong time ago.

So thank you, I look forward for your future reviews!

Also, I apologize for any OOC'ness in future chapters. I can't exactly help it. Hopefully, the story will remain enjoyable. I want to finish this story before moving back to Betrayal and FANBAM. So bear with me for a bit. This story WILL be completed.

(Which explains the overload of quick uploads)

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING

Dib sat at his desk, ignoring the throbbing pain in his arm. It was resting as comfortably as it could in the navy blue sling, but the slightest jerk would make waves of pain shoot up his shoulder and down his back.

Luckily, it was his left arm. He could still function just fine in class. Dib peered over to where Zim was sitting to glare at him.

But Zim wasn't looking at him. Glares are useless unless the other person saw, and Zim seemed totally distracted.

Maybe by Skoodge?

Nah.

Zim isn't the type. Dib thought about throwing a wad of paper at his head, but decided against it. He much rather keep from getting physical with Zim as much as possible until his arm was healed.

His glare morphed into simple staring. Zim was acting weird. Almost normal. He didn't argue with the teacher over the topic of politics, biology or astronomy. He didn't snarl or growl at the other children, nor did he torment Dib all morning. There was a glare or two, but other than that, all Zim did was stare blankly at the wall and give nervous glances at the clock.

It was like Zim wanted to get back home as quickly as possible.

And every now and then, when Zim seemed the most anxious, he would narrow his eyes and mutter something to himself in a harsh and unforgiving tone.

'It's like he's scolding himself…' Dib mused to himself. Zim was acting different, and Zim knew it. He didn't like it. He didn't understand it.

Invaders needed no one. Not even each other.

Dib stopped his staring and quickly finished up his worksheet. "As long as he isn't shooting at me I guess…" he muttered to himself. He didn't care. Zim was the enemy and so was Skoodge. They were both undeserving of pity… right?

Of course!

They were sent here to destroy Earth, right?

It was then that the lunch bell rang. The students walked out the door, like cattle, leaving behind a slow moving Zim and a waiting Dib.

Dib walked over to Zim and slammed his good hand on an empty desk- Skoodges' old desk. Zim seemed to be a little bothered at this, but glared back at Dib in his usual manner. "What Dib-Beast," he growled. "Want me to shoot you in your big fat head this time?"

"My head isn't big!" Dib quickly protested. He wasn't too worried about Zim shooting him as long as they were inside the skool. If he were to shoot him, his cover may be comprised. Dib sighed and tried to get serious again. "I'm going to get you back for what you did to me, you know."

"You shouldn't have been in my base," Zim said dismissively.

"Well, you shouldn't have been on Earth!"

"Well you shouldn't have been born!" Zim yelled, glaring venomously into Dib's eyes.

Dib backed off. He wasn't offended. But he didn't want Zim to go psycho again. "Alright, alright, relax already… Geez, you've been really on edge lately," Dib said, raising his hand in calming gesture.

Zim got up and moved for the door, not really interested in reacting to Dib anymore.

"Zim?"

But Zim kept moving. He didn't even pause.

XxXxX

Dib wasn't going to drop it. This was too… interesting. Dib had stalked Zim for nearly five months now, and knew about his machines, his Tallest, and PAK. All his knowledge was purely skin deep, and physical. But he didn't really know Zim. He's never seen him be nervous or scared over a situation that didn't threaten his life, never seen him cry tears that weren't the result of physical pain, never seen him laugh over something that wasn't a victory of some sort.

He wanted to know why Zim was acting so cranky and distant…more so then usual anyways. He walked up to Zim, who was sitting alone as usual in the lunch room and took a seat next to him daringly.

"Go away," Zim scooted away from the Earth Child, disliking the unusual closeness. "You know I hate your… humanness."

Dib grinned. Zim wasn't freaking out completely, so this was good. Kinda. "Look Zim, I can't expose you, let alone fight you right now…" he gestured to his injured arm. Zim just kept scowling. "I just want to talk!" Dib said, trying to look as unthreatening as possible.

But this was just annoying Zim. "Dib-Stink, I never want to talk to you! You're inferior brain and ugly face is completely off-putting. Now, go away before I make you!" he snapped.

Well, this was certainly not according to Dib's plan, but he expected it. He couldn't exactly make Zim trust him right off the bat. They've fought for so long, the 'kindness card' was null and void. Dib thought for a moment, and remembered something.

"Zim, something has been bugging me…" Dib said, ignoring his threats. "How old are you?"

This seemed to perk Zim's attention. It was such a harmless, innocent question… He found no reason why he shouldn't tell Dib, except out of spite. But then, spite was always a good reason. "Damn it Dib, I said go away!" he yelled.

Dib jerked back, dodging Zim's claws as he swiped at him. "Jesus Christ Zim! It was just a question!" he snapped. "Why have you been so damn hostile lately?"

"Hostile? Dib-Human, I am your enemy!" Zim yelled at him, grasping his spork and waved it threateningly. "Or did you lose that information in that gargantuan head of yours?"

"MY HEAD ISN'T BIG!" Dib yelled back, getting to his feet.

"It's huge! It's bigger than Earth!" Zim taunted.

"You know what? Now I know why you're called an 'Irken'; you irk everyone around you!" Dib slapped the spork out of Zims' hands.

Zim stared at Dib, looking confused and irritated. "You're not making any sense worm baby…"

"On earth, the word 'Irk' means to annoy and to irritate. You are 'irking' me. You always 'irk' me!" Dib explained, making wide gestures with his one arm.

Zim sat there in disbelief. Did humans really use the word 'irk' for that purpose? How insulting! "When I take over this puny planet, I'm changing that pathetic definition!" he spat, turning back to his food.

"…So how old are you?"

Zim glared at Dib sideways, but decided to just answer him. Maybe he'll go away. "On Irk, I'm sixteen…"

Dib's eyes widened. Zim wasn't that much older than he was!

"…And on Earth I'm one hundred and fifty-nine." Zim looked at Dib to see if he was satisfied with that answer, and was a little surprised by his reaction. Dibs' mouth hung open and his face became pale. He looked like he was going to faint at any minute. Zim was confused- why was the human acting so strangely all of a sudden? Was age really that important to humans?

"Y-You are… You… I… Wha…" Dib started babbling to himself, and walked away from the Irken to sort out his thoughts. Things were going to get much more awkward for Dib now that he knows that Zim was ten times older than he was.

Zim was left alone again. He poked at his disgusting Skool lunch a little bit more before hurling the tray at the wall.

XxXx

Dib walked off into the playground, trying to come to terms with what Zim had told him. It just seemed so impossible! How can anyone live that long, and still be considered young? What exactly was the life expectancy of an Irken? Could they live forever?

"God, he must be what…fourteen times older than me? At least?" Dib muttered to himself. He sat on decorative rock that sat next to the jungle gym, to talk to himself some more. "I can't over think this! But it's so creepy… I'm fighting an old coot… A green, ugly, old man… I guess I can just start making fun of his age then. I mea-"

Dib was interrupted by something grabbing the back of his coat. He yelped in surprise as he was pulled down to the gravel roughly, and a heavy boot slamming on his chest. He looked up, expecting a bully or maybe even Zim. But it was neither. It was something far worse.

"T-Tak?" Dib cried, trying to squirm away. The boot pressed down harder as Tak leered down at him. Her human disguise looked exactly the same, save for her worn out uniform.

"Hello Dib…"