Greetings human worm babies, here it is, the next chapter! I was going to send Zim and Dib off to space already but decided to give them an unwanted day off. I like the new development of Red and am really really excited about the next chapter. For anyone that's already read this chapter, I ask that you read it again as I changed it, I didn't like the way the original chapter was flowing and got rid of the car scene all together as it didn't really add to the story. I also needed to allude to a major scene in the next chapter. Hope you like it and remember to R&R.

The Reluctant Night Off

Something...wasn't right.

Gaz was sitting on her favorite couch in the living room, on her lap as it always was was her Gameslave; her electronic companion was usually the only thing she deemed worthy of her attention, but there it sat forgotten.

Her eyes flitted suspiciosly between Zim and Dib, trained on the two from the second they entered the front door. As far as she could tell, neither were physically worse for the wear. They were clothed and walking, something that couldn't be said for others she knew who went to Zita's parties; Dib was probably able to get Zim out before anything wierd happened.

So why in the hell were they acting so strange?

As they moved around the living room, they seemed to be in a daze of some kind, walking aimlessly around the house, searching and yet not searching. The only time they seemed to be aware of the world around them was whenever they came close to one another, only then would they react, jumping out of one another's proximity and averting one another's gaze.

She stared for a moment or two before her girl side kicked in and finally put the puzzle together, "Oh my God, you two kissed!" she screamed before bursting out into an uncharacteristic fit of laughter.

Dib snapped out of the cloud that he left Zita's house in. His cheeks sported their recent favorite color, from the corner of his eye he could see as Zim literally leapt into a conversation with Gir and scuttled hastily to the other side of the living room. The thing they weren't going to speak of was once again shoved right into the middle of their room, "It's not what you think, it was the only way to get out of Zita's house!" he explained.

Gaz rose and started towards her room, "Sure it is, Dib, sure it is!"

The teen glared at his departing sister, 'No Gaz we weren't trying to mind scrub the kiss incident from our brains,' he spat mentally, he then sighed. As much as he wanted to be miffed at her and use that anger as an excuse to play off what happened. There was work to be done. Work that couldn't be completed if they were preoccupied with awkwardly dancing around what just happened. He knew there was only one way to clear the air...

He squared his shoulders and faced his alien frienemy, "Zim-,"

"Hello my son!"

Dib nearly jumped out of his skin, he whirled around to see his father had made an impromptu appearance from deep within his own secret lab, Dib would have panicked as he never came up with an excuse as to why there was a girl with green skin in his house, but his fear was stopped short with a strange observation.

"Dad...why are you dressed up?"

And was he ever, Professor Membrane was almost unrecognizable without his favorite white lab coat. He was dressed to the nines in a jet black tux, white button down shirt and black and white oxford boots, his goggles were the only thing he kept and a white scarf concealed his face.

"I've been invited to the Scientist of the Year Awards Ceremony," he announced in his usual booming voice, "Turns out they love the sentient ordering chains, who knew ha ha!" he bellowed as he placed his hands on his hips.

Dib quickly realized this was actually his ticket out, "That's great dad, so proud of you and stuff, well you don't wanna be late, have a great time!" he said, pushing his dad out the door.

His efforts didn't seem to make any difference, Professor Membrane wouldn't budge from his spot, moving only to stare back at his son, "I won't be, so long as you get ready quickly."

"Me?" Dib asked.

"You and your sister, you two are my honored guests of course!" he said.

"...what?" Dib asked, his voice cracking.

"I told your sister to tell you three days ago, that little scamp," he said with a chuckle, he then seemed to take note of something, "Einstein's blessed sock, who is that beautiful young lady climbing out of our window?"

Dib froze, as did Zim-who had been trying to sneak out unnoticed.

Professor Membrane closed the distance between himself and Zim and grabbed the Irken's gloved hand, "Good evening, who might you be?" he said, lowering his scarf and placing a kiss on it. The irken was too petrified to be angered that someone was touching him.

"Dad, I can explain." Dib cut in.

'Eh?' Professor Membrane glanced between the two of them, hmm a male and green skinned female, seemingly of the same age, alone in his home, could it be that his son has finally...?

"No need to explain son, anyone with eyes can see this young lady is your special lady friend!"

His eyebrow cocked as his son's face turned an unnatural shade of red and a stream of blabbered excuses flew out of his mouth, 'Oh my...Perhaps I have spoken too soon (Dad, you see this is um), I must rectify this (and she was just going to the). No, my son is obviously in love with this girl (it's custom in her country to), he just lacks the social skills and confidence necessary to secure a courtship with her, yes that must be it!

"Gaz!" he yelled, cutting off whatever Dib was saying. The sister in question came traipsing in, also dressed to the nines in a lacy purple and black number, "Ready, are you ready, Dib?"

"No and thanks for the heads up," he snapped.

"Now, now you two," Professor Membrane said pushing Zim towards Gaz, "This young lady is also our special guest, surely you have something she can borrow."

"Heh heh, I have just the right dress for her," the female Membrane said.

"Dib-thing, we really need to continue our work," Zim whispered as Gaz grabbed his arm and dragged him away.

"You two can continue your homework later, tonight we celebrate!" Dib's father cut off Dib before he could protest and steered his son towards his own closet.

The dark and quiet Plutonian night exploded into day as a wormhole pushed apart the stars and opened up to let an Irken ship come blasting out.

It hovered a few minutes as the matter that made up the vessel cooled and firmed. A few minutes later the engines fired up and zipped across the frozen surface towards it's sun.

At the helm of the ship was a short but stout Irken, his hands were crossed behind his back, a stern gaze set at the firery dot in the far distance, "What are our co-ordinates?" he asked into the seemingly empty room.

"Our system indicates that we are indeed in the outskirts of the Z? System, sir," the chair to his right swiveled round, revealing a SIR unit.

"Call the Tallests," he ordered, a large screen popped out of a slot in the cieling of the ship, its screen was nothing but white noise before an image of his leaders appeared, the Irken walked over to them and bowed, ''I have arrived to the outskirts of the Z? system, my lords, expect to have the subject back in the custody of the great Irken empire by the end of today."

Red nodded, "Excellent work, Krik. Remember to stay on guard, this rogue Irken has the ability to sway your very thoughts, do you have the rock we gave you?"

Krik pulled the black stone out of his pack and showed it to them.

Red nodded, then turned to the sickly and hollow husk of an Irken that was at one time Purple, "Eh, fetch me the file."

The pale and trembling Purple cocked an eyebrow at him, Red stared at his counterpart expectantly, "Now."

The lesser leader rolled his eyes the way he did so well and left to retrieve the file Red wanted.

Red stared off screen for a few seconds before turning his attention back to Krik, "Bring the subject back alive and unharmed."

"Yes, my Tallest." Krik said, bowing again before the screen went black.

Purple returned to the room, file in hand, he stopped when he saw the screen was off, "What happened to Krik?" he asked.

"Oh uh, Krik lost contact with us, but he'll call back when he's retrieved Zim," he said cooly.

The plan was in action.

"Aww, isn't that Professor Membrane's son?"

"He used to be such a wierdo, but look at him now. All grown up...and with a girlfriend no less."

Zim scowled at the mouthy baboons, who'd been gushing over them from the minute he and Dib walked through the door.

They'd arrived at the extravagant party just as the awards were under way. Considering the last social gathering they attended was full of drunk and high teenagers and considering they didn't even want to go, it was at least a nice change of pace to be surrounded by more slightly more mature and civilized humans.

Even if they were treating the duo like a damned soap opera.

Apparently Dib's life choices had been of concern to the entire company, thanks to the Dib-Father's lack of discretion about his personal business. To see the human with another human and not delving into his 'pseudo-science' as they called it gave them all an undeserved sense of relief. Zim felt like they all should mind their own damned business.

"When I conquer this planet, these monkeys will entertain me," he spat, turning to Dib. To his surprise, the teen boy was staring at him...almost intently.

"Dib-stink?" Zim called.

The teen blinked and shook his head clear, "S-sorry,"he muttered timidly. 'Why in the hell was I staring like that?' he asked himself. He had been staring, from the moment Zim stepped out of Gaz's room in the damned deep red, floor length gown that seemed to be painted perfectly onto each contour of his curvaceous body and taunted him with the slit to the hip that gave a fleeting but sensual glimpse of his toned green leg. It was difficult enough to stay on guard against the hormonal teen male inside him that raged for something more than a glimpse, with that gown, Dib was practically defenseless.

He pushed the akward moment aside and rallied his focus to the new task at hand.

They patiently waited as the awards ceremony came and went, clapping as Professor Membrane was proclaimed 'Scientist of the Year' and he accepted his award, they stood initially, wanting to keep an eye on all exits but soon abandoned the upright position for a sitting at a table one when people kept approaching them, hungry for a love story.

After the ceremony had finished, the lights dimmed and music began to flow from the band on stage, all around them people began to couple up and take to the dance floor.

"Might we escape now?" Zim asked when all the people around them dispersed.

Dib nodded and began to look for a way to get out of there, security guards were stationed at the front entrance and both exits so that was a no-go and his Dad wouldn't just idle by and let them traipse out the front door without 'realizing their romantic potential' as he put it.

"The escape routes are heavily guarded, by Irk how I wish I had my stun gun," Zim muttered, operating on the same wave length as Dib.

The clatter of dropped dishes brought his attention to across the dance floor, two servers had bumped into one another and were now feverishly trying to clear up the plates and get back to the kitchen.

Dib stood, grabbed Zim's hand and pulled him out of his seat and to the dance floor.

Zim blushed, "What the Zok are you doing? R-release me," he asked.

"We're going to pretend to dance and make our way to the kitchen," he whispered, "there are no guards there to stop us and by the time my Dad realizes it, we'll be out the kitchen door and on our way home.''

"Very well," Zim's cheeked reddened even further as Dib masterfully pulled him close, slipped one hand around his waist and took Zim's 3 fingered hand it his 5 fingered one.

"Um, Zim is not well versed on this dancing thing you humans do," the Irken admitted.

"Just let me lead," Dib said and started pulling Zim in a slow waltz.

It was Zim's turn to stare, he'd never admit it, but he was impressed by Dib's graceful movements. Zim had always wanted to learn to dance, it was in his opinion one of the few Earth things that had any merit. The discipline it took to master a movement, the emotions that could be expressed with one's body, the problem was he had absolutely no rhythm, he was sure that without the human boy's guidance he'd look like a stumbling crutemak.

Dib glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Professor Membrane, his Dad seemed to take note of their move to the dance floor and nodded approvingly before delving into a conversation with Mrs. Dabney, the CEOs wife and one of the baboons as Zim called them, he could also see Gaz pointing and laughing from the chair she'd taken to when they arrived.

Making sure he wasn't the center of his father's attention, Dib lead Zim across the dance floor, they were nearly there when a wave of servers got in their way. "Damn," Dib muttered, pulling Zim back towards the center so they weren't too obvious. They would have to idle before they could make their move.

Giggling brought Zim's attention back to the same baboons, led by Mrs. Dabney continued gushing over the two of them, "Dib's love is sooo cute!"

His camo-guage malfunction faded and was replaced with a look of irritation, he was not Dib's love-pig, 'We are rivals, rivals you wiggly squirrels! Why must these creatures continue to assume things about us?' he wondered.

He then realized something, 'Us?' He wondered, 'We are not 'us,' Dib is in no way comparable to Zim, he does not understand Zim's predicament...does he?'

Zim chanced a glance at Dib; the boy was looking in the opposite direction, Dib may not have been judge by looks...but he was judged by having different ideas. Ideas that were not totally idiotic and were at times rather brilliant when one took the time to listen to them. Yes indeed there was a brain between those square ears and it was not totally useless. The others did not understand Dib and his not-so-idiotic ideas, did not want to understand...so they ousted him.

Zim slitted his cerulean contacts, 'Dib deserves none of Zim's pity, it is thanks to his constant interference that Zim has not been able to take over this pitiful planet.'

'Because he sees the threat I pose,' Zim shook his head, 'Make no assumptions, Zim, he must see only what the others see, nothing more."

"Aww, she's snuggling into his chest, young love is so sweet." Mrs. Dabney said.

Zim cracked a glaring eye at the two of them, "They think you're snuggling with me, just look at my face." Dib said, taking notice of his Dad's coworkers and their akward conversation.

Zim didn't want to look Dib in the eyes any longer than what was a necessary amount of time to throw the usual hateful glance. Not just Dib but humans in particular, it said a lot on his planet to look someone in the eye, it was a sign of respect, adoration and was meant for his leaders, the Tallests. Humans were not worthy of his stare, sure he stared at Dib, but it was always only because Dib needed surveillance.

Still, it was better than giving those baboons anymore unintentional assumption fuel. So Zim complied for once in his life and looked at Dib.

Big mistake.

Dib's honey colored eyes locked onto his and wouldn't let go. Zim never realized how...how kind, how open and unassuming...those eyes were when they weren't hidden behind the menacing glare of his glasses.

Dib cleared his throat in an attempt to get Zim to snap out of whatever mode he was in, when he didn't the human decided to try talking, "Erm..I uh, I wanted to apologize."

"For what, you have not transgressed Zim have you?" the invader muttered, coming around with another blush.

"Not any more than usual," he said with a nervous chuckle, his smile quickly faded, "I mean I'm sorry about how people have been treating you lately, my dad, our classmates, Rik," he explained.

Zim winced, "Humans are just like that aren't they, quick to allow a person's appearance to instantly sway their opinion of the person and the situation? Why do you do that to one another?"

Dib was mildly surprised that Zim was actually asking him a serious question, "I wish I knew, ignorance...pettiness I guess, anyone could tell you're the same annoying Zim you always were if they took a second to really look." Dib said, twirling the alien out.

It was supposed to be an insult, a common observation and nothing more but Dib's comment struck Zim with a lasting force, seeping deep into the wrinkles of his brain.

His organ began that obnoxious fluttering, Dib saw...Dib, that idiotic rival of his saw what others didn't, what Zim wanted them to see. He wasn't disappearing the way he started to believe he was, Zim was there, is still there, his existence tethered eternally to this realm...by Dib.

Elation filled the Irken's squeedily spooch, turning it into an olympic acrobat. Dib tugged at Zim's hand to pull him back into first position so they could continue the dance to the other side. Zim however was overcome with joy and before he could stop himself slipped his arms through Dib's and pulled him into a tight hug.

Professor Membrane, still at the edge of the dance floor placed his hands on his hips, "My work here is done!" he announced before activating his boot jets and fllying off.

Dib froze, Zim was hugging him...why was Zim hugging him? Zim shouldn't be hugging him, right? He could barely think as slender arms wrapped around him, whose hands slid up his back and warm breasts pressed firmly against his chest. As Dib's shocked body was pulled closer a sweet scent filled his nose, Zim's scent. God, it was unlike any fragrance on Earth but it was intoxicating to say the least, it ebbed away the shock and lulled him into a half lidded stupor.

What's this? A certain forgotten, pushed away dream resurfaced and began melding into reality, that mystery person who called him into the room, who pulled him into the most carnal of embraces was...

"Zim..." he whispered.

The irken chuckled a throaty chuckle against his button own shirt, apparently another dream was being re-visited.

"O.k. we're gonna take a few minutes but we'll be back with more tunes," the singer announced. Around the two dance partners began to break apart, chatting as they made their way to their seats.

The spell was breaking, "Z-zim..." Dib mumbled drowsily.

"Yes?" the Irken replied, his breath was warm against his shirt.

Reality set in, armed with teenaged akwardness. Zim must have felt it too because the two broke apart with an explosive ferocity.

"Ew, d-do not embrace Zim with your affection tentacles!" he shouted.

"What?!" Dib asked, "You hugged me!"

"I...I do not recall ergo you hugged me." Zim crossed his arms and lifted his head in a snubbing manner.

"That logic is rediculous, you hugged me first Zim!" Dib screamed, he didn't loose his cool, he was just tired of Zim always getting away with the last word. Zim still had the one up from the dream incident and the score needed to be evened. People were staring at the two of them and Zim knew it, the pinkish hue on his jade cheeks indicated as much.

"It's o.k. if you like me, Zim. I am irrisitable after all!" he shouted, waving and walking off the dance floor, it was probably the most uncharacteristic thing he'd ever done and the stupidest as it compromised their escape.

But the win had been won.

Zim stood there on the center of the dance floor, alone and a spectacle for the entire world to behold, Dib had embarrassed him beyond any level of embarrassment that the Irken had felt before, he left him alone, abandoned him just when Zim had begun to think Dib cared.

Fury filled Zim as the congregation began to laugh, he grabbed the sparkly black shoe from his left foot, "How dare you!" he screamed and chucked it with all his might at the human's head. Dib turned and ducked just in time, he followed the shoe as it went over his head and barreled onward, striking the head of Mrs. Dabney.

They both watched, mortified as the heel caught her beehive hairdo and took it clean off her head.

The nosy woman brought her hands up onto her head, a squeak of disbelief popped out of her botoxed lips. The mass of people (all employees) saw the chance to assist their bosses wife and rushed to her aid.

Dib, as mad as he was at Zim, couldn't pass up this opprotunity and strode back to his nemesis, "Let's go."

Zim, anger gone, nodded and followed Dib to through the rush of people and to the kitchen doors.

SURPRISE BONUS PREVIEW!

This was it, with the flip of the final switch Dib would finally have his old nemesis back, no more akward silences, no more outrageously big boobs, no more weird hugging moments. Just the usually screaming and despising, sweet separation betwixt to the two of them. His fingers idled just above the trigger, 'I'm hesitating, why in the hell am I hesitating? I'll finally have the old Zim back!' His stomach started to feel weird again, 'No stopping now, Zim needs this...I need this!'