YES! I AM EVIL! HAHAHAHA- *ehem* So...

Thanks to those who have reviewed, to show me errors, offer suggestions, point things out, and just tell me you like my story. It makes me happy to steal the attention spans of so many people for a while. XD

~~~•~~~

For a second the boy stared to the side, out the window, watching the off-white van full of his dad's work equipment pull up the drive. His heart missed a beat as the implications finally crashed on him. His dad was home today.

"Dib?"

The apprehension in Zim's voice made itself heard, he was worried, and Dib leaped up, holding his bowl of ravioli in one hand, and grabbing Zim's wrist with his other.

"Come on!"

Hurriedly he pulled Zim up the stairs with him, ears catching the faint engine-like sound of the garage door opening.

Why was he hiding from his own father? He didn't know. He felt suddenly as if he had a lot to hide though- like Zim. His alien was in disguise, but still, he was suddenly feeling paranoid, and didn't want to risk the slightest chance. Plus he'd been gone for days. His dad might start asking where he was and interrogating him.

Dib had disappeared withought being noticed before, but there were those rare occasions where his dad would ask where he'd been, how he was doing, where he was going, and so forth.

Dib planned to make it look like he'd been sitting in his room, and would act like he didn't know what his father was talking about if asked about his absence.

He'd say he had no school today because... because...

Because Ms Bitters was sick, and the replacement couldn't come for some reason. No, that didn't sound dependable... hmmm... Maybe he'd say he got suspended for several days or something? No, his dad would NOT like that. He wouldn't do much more then shake his head and call Dib insane, but still.

And how was Dib supposed to sneak back to Zim's? If his dad decided to care for once anyway. Why was his dad home today?

Running along the upstairs hallway, Dib pulled Zim into his room with him and closed the door.

He heard Zim give an 'ooh!' noise and let go of the bony wrist to let the alien look around.

Zim had almost never seen the boy's room. It fascinated him. Rather dark, and cool like his base, but such a different color scheme and general design. However he didn't like how cluttered it was. That annoyed him greatly. He'd have to clean it for his tallest.

Paranormalities and research on said paranormalities littered every shelf, desk, even the floor. Only the few essential places were left clear, like the boy's rectangular sleeping nest, 'bed' as it was called and his computer desk.

"Okay, listen Zim, if my dad asks, we'll say we were... uhh..."

"Kicked out of the filthy human learning establishment for bad behavior?" It was a friendly, well meaning offer Zim made, looking back at his tallest before walking around the room, and poking at Dib's computer, but Dib just didn't think that story would go down well.

"No, my dad wouldn't like that."

"We could tell him the teacher died."

"... I ...don't know if that's very... likely. We'll just... We'll say there's a... a flu going around and the school is quarantined, like with the lice, so, we got to go home since we didn't catch the flu... aaaand, you came over to my house to hang out? How's that sound?"

Dib thought this idea was honestly just as dumb as the others, but Zim merely shrugged. "Very well. If that's what my Dib tallest says."

Leaving the computer alone, Zim walked over to the small TV and game system across the room. Dib almost never used it, but, like Gaz, he had a bit of a knack for such things once he learned the controls.

"If we are 'hanging out' then we should do human 'hanging out' things, yes?" Cocking his head at the raven-haired boy, Zim wondered what such things were.

"Yeah sure... Oh crap, I left the TV downstairs on!"

Zim made a careless grunt.

"We are not hiding our presence. There is no reason to care."

Dib still felt weirdly cornered somehow, about this whole thing, but nodded.

"So... We can... Play video games..."

"Sure!" Zim chirped, immediately sitting down on the carpet and snatching the best looking controller.

Even if this was Dib's house, Dib didn't feel entirely safe. He could do almost whatever he wanted withought anyone paying attention or caring, but he felt he couldn't trust his father or sister with his secrets and the things stressing and paining him. They were like strangers to him. And with everything happening with Zim, he felt as though he had a pretty big secret. He felt he had a lot to hide. You didn't let strangers know your secrets. That's how people get hurt.

Dib hoped it wasn't obvious that he was dehydrated and starved. He hoped it wasn't obvious that he hadn't had enough sleep. He hoped it wasn't obvious that his relationship with Zim had changed... and might change even further.

He was starting to really want it to change further.

He really was starting to think more seriously about his thoughts in that area. How could he not? They had almost...

If only he'd thought to remove his glasses!

He stared at Zim silently for a moment, a feeling of longing in him.

He owned Zim as his tallest, but he had nothing of the alien in the way he wanted right now.

Or did he?

Dib sat down carefully next to Zim, close, feeling a sense of hope as the Irken scooted closer, so their sides brushed.

Zim was practically CUDDLY around him. Surely this couldn't be just normal behavior for an Irken around their leader right? There had to be SOMETHING in Zim that made him want this...

Dib started up the game system, and Zim watched brand names flash before the war game started up, not noticing that the human was staring at him with longing, but only a faded sort of hope.

~~~•~~~

Over an hour passed, and Dib felt almost strangely disappointed. No one bothered them. He was in no sort of trouble. He kept expecting someone to walk in at his doorframe and start questioning him. He'd rehearsed everything he would say, he was ready to tell his father his made-up-excuses, the clever lie, the story he and Zim created and detailed out in loud whispers as they sat there, but no one came. Eventually Dib looked across the dark room at the electric blue numbers on his digital clock.

By now Gaz would be home from school, either she already was, or she would be in minutes.

Shots fired on screen. The human and Irken were on the same team, having found out that Dib's rank in Zim's mind made the Irken incapable of causing harm; even to a virtual picture standing for his leader; so they really couldnt fight each other. Both of their video-game soldiers died after putting up an incredibly pathetic fight. They'd lost an interest in the game that they never had in the first place.

"No one's coming." Dib finally spoke up.

"It would appear that way." Zim nodded, going through the routine motions of picking out the same character and the same map, and the same goal for their game.

Dib sighed and didn't do anything. He put down his controller, taking off his glasses and staring at them for a moment.

"I would have thought someone would have said something..."

"What do you mean Dib?"

Zim didn't look up. He was bored and melancholy. He wanted to go home. To HIS home.

Dib gave a long sigh, a funny, thoughtful look on his face, as he put the glasses back on.

"I don't... I don't know... I just thought... We haven't even been noticed. I thought SOMEONE would have at least noticed."

"Eh, noticed what?"

"Sonething! Anything!" Dib's voice raised, seeming upset, perhaps frustrated. He was unhappy.

"No one's even realized I was gone. No one realizes I'm back now, no one realized you're here. No one came to see what's up..."

"Isn't that good though?" Zim was confused. "Why does it matter so much my tallest? You seem ... unhappy."

Zim cocked his head. He didn't quite comprehend the cause of Dib's emotions.

The boy looked tired.

"I guess... I guess it doesn't really matter. We had a lie planned out for if they asked... And we kinda hid, we acted like we didn't want to be found... And I suppose we really DIDN'T want anyone to come but..."

The boy's voice quieted until Zim could barely hear.

"They're just my family, that's all. They're supposed to notice. They're supposed to care."

A pause followed. Neither made a move on their game as both their characters were shot again. Zim looked to the side, at the now empty bowl Dib had eaten his lunch from hours ago. The light coming through the windows had dimmed. It was getting late.

Zim spoke up in a soft, almost soothing voice, trying to understand something of these still very foreign emotions.

"Does this make you sad Dib-tallest? That you went unnoticed?"

Caught off guard by the question, Dib looked over surprised, before slowly turning away again.

"Yeah, I guess it does... It makes me feel... unimportant, like I don't matter... I guess." He tried to explain it since Zim seemed confused, 'sad' being a rather bland, in-descriptive word for what he felt.

He almost jumped in shock when he felt thin arms, covered by the sleeves of the soft, plush sweater Zim wore, wrap tightly around his waist.

"But these human 'hug' things make people feel less sad, right?"

Dib just stared for a while, before realizing he'd started to smile. In a few more seconds he started to laugh, and in moments, grabbed Zim and pulled him in close, hugging tight.

Surely, whether Zim even knew it or not, this had to be a sign that the little Irken felt something for his leader right? Dib hoped so, fiercely.

Zim was wondering himself. He'd never felt this kind of... connection to his Irken tallest. This was new. This was something... just-for-Dib, it felt like. Special. His Irken tallest had never made him feel like this. Perhaps it was just because they didn't have emotions. Zim had wanted to make them happy, but really, it was only because his pak was programmed so he couldn't be happy unless he'd pleased them. He felt happy to see his Dib-tallest happy, but it was just very different. What was this?

"Yes. It makes me feel much better. Thank you Zim."

The E.T. was so cute, making such childish attempts to keep Dib from feeling sad.

Zim purred. "Good. Zim likes it too."

Dib smiled widely, and after a moment, rubbed his cheek against Zim's, affectionately, drinking all this up. He loved this. And Zim really cared about him! He was POSITIVE Zim didn't treat his former leaders like this. There MUST be a closeness between them, something special even from Zim's point of view. Dib opened his mouth, to say something, just some little something. At least hint at the confession he wanted to make. Something... 'sweet' to the cute little alien who offered him a hug to make him feel better, but fate just wasn't in his favor. It never was. Before he could get a word out-

"DIB!"

The boy jumped back with a squeal, shoving poor Zim off him so hard so the alien fell to the floor with an alarmed chirp and a thump.

Dib had only just gotten over his own denial, but he'd really prefer Gaz didn't see him hugging his alien. That was Gaz's voice he heard. Thank god she wasn't at the doorway. She was calling from downstairs. She didn't and couldn't see them.

"IF YOU'RE HOME GET DOWN HERE AND EAT SUPPER!"

A door slammed somewhere downstairs and Dib gave a heavy, relieved sigh. He smoothed his hair and clothes, still sitting on the carpet, before looking up at Zim.

The Irken looked deeply hurt, and Dib's stomach spun and twisted. Zim was still sort of sprawled on the floor in the way he'd landed after being pushed so violently, and he didnt look up at his tallest, shoulders hunched, dejected.

"I thought you liked my hugging..."

Dib winced.

"I-I'm sorry Zim, I was just startled. By Gaz... You know."

The Irken looked up at him, still emotionally injured. He'd enjoyed hugging Dib, the rejection hurt and seemed very impacting.

Dib sighed, before reaching over and hugging him, tightly again, doing what Zim had done with him, and pulling him up to a normal sitting position.

"I love your hugs Zim. Do my hugs make YOU feel better?"

Zim's face quickly broke into a grin, the alien feeling all better, and he nodded vigorously.

"Yes! But only Dib's hugs. Other people are smelly. Zim doesn't want their hugnesses."

Dib chuckled. "Good... now... I suppose there's no harm in your coming down to dinner with me... unless... you can't eat what we're having... I dunno."

Pulling back, Dib looked at Zim.

"Do you wanna come down with me? Your choice. I gotta go eat supper."

Zim nodded happily. "Yes my tallest. Zim wants to stay with you."

Dib's heart fluttered as he got up, not only because of how sweet what Zim said had seemed, but because he was nervous, wondering how his sister and dad would react to Zim staying over for supper, and possibly even sleeping over- it was getting too late, Dib thought, to go back to the base.

"Alright. Come on."

~~~•~~~

Casually enough, Dib walked into the kitchen, offering a weak smile to his sister, who was sitting in her chair, multitasking her Gameslave and eating.

"Hey Gaz!" He paused for a moment, looking around. "Where's dad? I thought I saw him come home..."

"How should I know? Probably in the basement, working on something stupid that's more important then his kids for some reason." Gaz was twelve now, and Dib didn't think she seemed as incredibly dark and dangerous as much as just neglected and wronged now, like him. She could still kill a person at the drop of a hat, and acted like it, but she'd gotten mildly softer as time passed. She had grown up from how she was at seven. Now she seemed still easily angered, but more just sad all the time.

Dib knew why she acted the way she did. Pain from a number of things plagued both Membrane children, and Gaz was almost worse off then Dib for several reasons. She didn't get bullied, but she had her share of life's horrors to live through.

She'd held them down and responded only with anger for a long time, but she had her breaking points. Over the years Dib had watched her slowly beginning to fall apart. He wished he could be a brother to her, offer some help, but she never allowed it.

They were a very broken group. They weren't even really a family anymore. They just lived in the same house.

There was a man who came home anywhere from once a month to once a year, and almost never spoke to the children.

There was a girl with too much to bear on her own with enough trauma and frustration trapped inside her to make her a killer, who refused to trust and depend on anyone.

There was a very socially dependent boy who got no attention of any sort and was beat up and bullied and developing 'mental issues' because of it all.

And here stood a little green alien, hiding behind the boy, smelling the tension in the air thicken with what Gaz had said, and looking around confused, wondering if he missed something and why everyone seemed so unhappy.

Perhaps Dib needed more hugging? Zim got the impression that Dib didn't want Gaz to see them share any hugs though. He'd wait until he and his leader were away from her.

"Why is Zim here anyway?"

Gaz glanced up, breifly taking her eyes off her game to glare at the alien in question. Zim felt uneasy under her sight. Gaz had grown along with Dib. Now she was about the same height he was, an equal, a threat. She knew about his identity too. Anxiously Zim swallowed.

"Well... He's, sleeping over, cause... it's getting too late for him to go home." Dib paused, looking down at the bowl of beans, rice, and sausage bits at his spot that they were having for supper. A box mix of some sort. Nothing really special.

"Do you think dad will mind? If Zim sleeps over?" Dib questioned, moving from where he'd been standing behind his kitchen chair to offer Zim a bowl of what was left of the food. There was still plenty in the steaming pot on the stove, and Dib filled a bowl for his underling, since Zim couldn't reach or didn't know where they kept everything.

"When has dad ever cared about anything we do Dib?"

Gaz's voice was disgusted, but Dib could hear the hurt in it.

The Irken had followed Dib around closely, nervous around 'Gaz-the-monster-queen', and Dib almost tripped on him when he turned around to give the bowl. Zim took the rice mix with a cheerful squeak, pulling a chair up beside Dib's, sitting next to his master, as close as he could.

Dib felt conspicuous but Gaz didn't even look up to question as he slid himself into his chair and started eating.

Zim avoided all the sausage bits and beans, and only found the rice to be edible after dumping half of a salt-shaker on it for flavor and to dry out the water content. It had basically been boiled and had soaked up a lot of the nasty death-liquid.

Dib ate his food slowly. Gaz soon left the table withought saying much more to either of them.

Zim finished before Dib did, and even after Dib finished, the human boy sat there for another five minutes, and of course Zim sat there with him, kicking his feet against the chair legs and looking around.

Dib wanted his father to come upstairs and acknowledge him. Just a word. That was all he wanted. Surely the Professor would show, make at least some failed attempt at eating dinner with his family since he was home.

The man never showed up, and eventually, a very unhappy looking Dib picked himself up as if this was a very difficult thing to do, looked around tiredly, then told Zim they should set him up a place to rest and things to do for when Dib went to sleep that night, since Irkens didn't sleep and all.

Zim hated how sad Dib seemed. He didn't understand, but he wished he could fix it.

It wasn't anything he could fix though. No matter how happy Zim could make Dib, some of the emotional, and mental scars Dib had attained in life were permanent. Some things could really never be fixed.

Zim heard him murmur to himself, as the two of them headed back up to Dib's bedroom;

"I have a terrible dad... I hate him... He doesn't even try... He doesn't care. He doesn't want me. Or Gaz. I hate him."

Zim felt a pain in his chest at the clear anger and hurt in the young human's voice, but he couldn't hug Dib and make it go away while they were walking up the stairs and in plain sight.

~~~•~~~

"Alright... So you've told me before that unless you're absolutely exhausted you're incapable of sleep, so, I'll set you up with a few things to do while I'm sleeping... I'm afraid it'll be really boring..."

"That's okay my tallest."

They walked into Dib's room again, the 'game over' sign still flashing on Dib's one TV game system in the corner. Zim closed the door behind them for Dib, before surprising the boy by hugging him yet again. Dib stared, starting to blush for a second, before grinning like an idiot. Zim was so cute, and he tried so hard to make him happy and keep him that way.

"Aw! Heheh, well thank you Zim, what's this one for?"

"Why do Dib's own base and parent and sister units make Dib so depressed and frustrated?"

The boy's happiness melted and he looked away. Zim squeezed his waist tighter in responce.

"It's a long story Zim. I don't know if you'd understand... let's just say humans have needs and standards for families that my own family never really... did a good job on... for any of it's members."

He looked back at Zim to see him making a sympathetic face at him.

"Can Zim fix it for you my tallest?"

"No. It's not something you can make any difference in Zim. What happened has already happened. But thanks for trying so hard to keep me happy."

Dib smiled down at Zim. "Heh, you know, no one's ever cared before... So I really appreciate it."

Zim grinned and nuzzled his face into Dib and Dib blushed, wanting to do something back, but forced his mind to other matters.

"Alright. Comon already. Let's get you all set up. It's getting late."

~~~•~~~

It was past midnight. Zim would have preferred to be in his own base, but this hadn't been so bad. Dib had stayed up late with him, and when Zim asked, he'd even gotten his tallest to read to him while Zim attempted to draw a plan for a new voot cruiser since his old one had been blown up. Zim had asked Dib to read him a novel, since he'd never heard of such a form of entertainment before, and he picked out the one with the gory-est looking cover from Dib's shelf.

Dib found Zim's reactions to the story to be adorable. The alien was enthralled. Soon he'd lost interest in planning his new ship and lay on the floor in front of Dib, on his belly, chin resting on his arms, eyes wide as the monster in the story ripped off the head of its screaming victim. Zim loved the gruesome book, and kept begging for more every time Dib said he had to go to sleep. Eventually Dib had been falling unconscious sitting up, he was so tired, and his voice got so sore, but he promised his sweet little pet that he'd read more tomorrow. Zim had pouted but nodded, and his tallest had left for a minute, going to the bathroom, and coming back wearing his pajamas; a T-shirt with a UFO on the front, and plain grey pants.

For some reason Zim liked the way Dib looked. Perhaps it was the fact that he almost never saw the boy withought his powerful looking coat? Dib was comfortable enough around Zim to allow himself to look... possibly even a little vulnerable. Zim felt even more treasured and close to his leader then even a hlejkling seeing him like this. No tallest's favorite he'd ever heard of was so close to and trusted by their tallest. It was such a lovely feeling.

Did they have some sort of different relationship from a normal Irken and tallest?

That idea worried Zim. That might be bad... Then again though, for all he knew it might be GOOD. He had difficulty comprehending all the different kinds of 'relationships' humans had. All he knew was that he wanted to be with Dib as much as possible because Dib made him very happy. It seemed like Dib enjoyed being with him too. Perhaps Zim made Dib happy too?

Dib also looked particularly nice to Zim, the Irken could stare at him limitlessly. He was so tall, and his hair was so dark and soft yet spiky and his eyes so bright and fierce and beautiful golden-amber colored. The coat he wore would flow out behind him in the breeze, and his form was thin, but clearly strong, yet not very heavily muscled, like a well trained irken elite.

Dib stared at Zim a lot too. Did he like the way Zim looked, like how Zim liked his appearance?

Nothing could compare with how it felt to be held by Dib. And Dib said himself, he loved Zim's hugs. Were all these feelings mutual?

Some things Dib did, or things Zim did while close to Dib, would give the ex-conqueror the most delicious shuddering, pulsing sensation that almost made him squirm.

What was this? Zim wondered as he watched Dib crawl into his bed and turned out the lights, leaving Zim with his perfect night-vision to do what he wanted. Zim stared at the male's relaxed form, hidden beneath deep-blue blankets, for several minutes, thinking and confused.

~~~•~~~

Zim's starting to get curious about his feelings for the Dib. :3

Only one chapter left. Then it's a sort of intermission. I doubt it'll be the end since it feels so incomplete, so I'll continue it somehow, not sure how yet, I'll probably take some votes on that though.

The main reason for the break from this story, is so I can work on another I started. Another ZADR, so hopefully you guys will all continue to have things to enjoy from me. Honestly I doubt I'll be uploading non-ZADR for a good long while. So I hope you'll enjoy the new thing like you enjoyed this!