Sorry this has taken so long to update! Kriss and I kinda fell into a little slump for a while and then had to go back and re-rp parts to make the ending make more sense! But we've got everything nice and written out, and we'll be posting as much as possible!

Be kind, review!

Zim's eyes shifted around a bit before landing on Dib's hands, then crawling up his arms to his shoulders, then neck, then face. He leaned forward, his head landing on Dib's though not painfully so, just a small knock and he was staring into Dib's eyes.

"I pretty much know what's wrong with your throat now." He said quietly, feeling no need to use his whole voice while so close to Dib. "I might not be able to fix it or heal it or whatever, but I know what's wrong with it."

Silence. Stranger than usual just silence. Dib blinked up at Zim, his whole body feeling tingly now for so many reasons. He turned his head, just barely to get a better look back at Zim. He mouthed the word what as he felt his ever so trusting hands leave their spot on his lap to trace up to Zim's neck to tie behind.

"The tears in your throat," Zim explained, looking down and away from Dib's eyes to better concentrate on the simple facts. "They caused these odd grooves in your throat. It's messing up the flow of air that allows you to create noise and form words with the sounds. That's why you can still speak when you force yourself, but doing so causes the flow of air to damage your throat even more."

He paused to scrunch up his face as he thought for a moment. "I don't know yet if there's a way to heal it or fix it, because, like I said before, I'm no medic drone, I wasn't trained to fix. I could make a kind of armor plating for your throat, but that would distort the sound and I wouldn't know how to get it out in case the tissue or muscle around it ever got damaged."

Dib watched the other carefully, trying his best, and doing a good job at it, to not get excited. The last thing he wanted to do was to get too excited over a thing that could never be done. Of course, he was content not being able to speak now. People at school seemed to harass him less because of it, but he would still like to speak to his Zim.

Dib let his eyelids go half closed as he pushed himself a little closer to Zim, to give him a kiss of appreciation.

Zim blinked a few times at the kiss, confused by the act greatly. Touching lips to show affection, deep affection. It wasn't something irkens did, not that most of them ever had cause to, but still, the farthest they ever went was holding hands, but that was more for possessive reasoning's than affectionate. Much like a wedding ring only a less permanent of a statement.

But, he couldn't say Dib wasn't the cutest thing in the entire universe when he did it, because he was. And so he gave Dib a small kiss in reply, more like saying 'hello' to a passing friend in the school hall ways after a greeting, very little meaning to it, but if it made Dib happy then he would be willing to do anything.

And it's not like he didn't like showing affection to the human, because he did, very much so.

Dib sighed and took Zim into a hug, nuzzling into his shoulder as he melted over every feeling being thrown at him at that present moment. Which was a lot, by the way. He has no clue how to take things right now. Happy, mad, sad, scared, excited; pretty much, it was whatever Zim would tell him to feel.

Zim sighed and nuzzled the side of Dib's head, holding the human close, close enough to the point where he was pulling Dib into his lap.

Things felt so warm right now. Dib drew tiny circles with his finger on Zim's chest. He planted tiny kisses here and there on the Irken chest, just letting the feeling rush over him of feeling needed and to be kissing the one he felt so many things for.

Zim shifted uncomfortably. So much attention, so much good attention. It made his face flush and his antennae twitch with that foreign feeling, something between lust and affection, he felt from the human in his arms. It made his antennae tingle and his irken heart equivalent pump blood much more quickly than was normal, making him blush all the more. The heat from that blush rose to his antennae, making them hot and just all the more sensitive to the tingles and the feelings. It was a cycle that was making his head spin and his chest ache and at the moment all that was unwanted so he moved his hands to Dib's shoulders pushing him back a little.

Dib blinked up at Zim in confusion, but tried to move back down for more kisses on Zim's cheek.

"W-wait," Zim said, his blush raising a little as he quickly tried to think of some excuse to get Dib to stop kissing him without making the human feel bad. "Wo-wouldn't you like to go down to the med lab, I could start work on your throat."

Dib watched and nodded slightly, still keeping his lips pursed in kissing readiness as he just nested himself better in Zim's lap. He felt just a bit confused.

"Ok, let's go." Zim said with a smile, wrapping his arms lower around Dib as he stood, carrying the human with strength his thin limbs didn't appear to posses.

Dib stared up at his carrier's eyes, not knowing what to make of this. He brought his arms around to in between them. "Can you do this?"

Zim blinked at Dib a moment before saying, "Well, I don't want to actually do anything until I'm absolutely sure it will work, so I'm going to run a bunch of tests first, if that's ok with you."

Dib nodded and before he knew it, he was being taken back to Zim's lab for examination. He held a tight grip around Zim's neck as they went. It felt so odd being carried by Zim again. It reminded him of being back in the hospital with Zim as his nurse, and how he took care of him no matter how much of a jaded brat Dib was being.

Zim decided, making his way down to the lift under the refrigerator, that he liked carrying Dib. He wasn't too heavy, but just heavy enough to where it felt like a comfortably weight, just the right amount of trust and need. The human trusted Zim not to drop him and needed the alien to carry him because his feet weren't touching the ground. In the alien's mind it made perfect sense, but he was sure if he tried to explain it to Dib he would just stare at him curiously before shaking his head to dislodge the brain melting madness from his thoughts.

Dib was comfortable as was, and didn't seem half amazed as he did when he first came into the lab. The second time was still mind blowing, but to a much smaller degree than it had been before.

They walked in together, but Dib didn't seem to want to let go of Zim when it seemed time to drop.

Zim put his hands on Dib's rear to properly hoist him up onto the bed which was a little above waist level, so hoisting was required, but like Dib, he didn't want to let go of the human. His base seemed exceptionally cold to him that day and Dib was just so warm and sunny it was like having a can of sunshine you could open whenever you want.

As Dib allowed himself to be set down on the table before Zim, his arms still tied around the alien's neck, he couldn't help but immediately try to shove his blush down at feeling Zim's innocent enough claws brushing past his butt. Suddenly, air seemed to come at short supply, but he tried to play it off as nervousness for getting looked over by the lab's computer again.

After a soft hug Zim forced his arms away from Dib as much as he wanted to hang on. But there was work to do! So he moved to a drawer and pulled out a purple device that looked very much like one of those magnetized drawing boards most kids get for their second birthday to doodle on.

The alien attacked a wire from the device to the computer and walked back over to Dib, saying, "I want to get a better look at those grooves in your throat."

The human nodded, and aligned himself better against the table as he watched Zim carefully.

Zim put the device in front of Dib's throat and flipped a switch, the screen lit up and Zim twisted a knob on the screen a few times before he got a clear look at the scars, like he had opened Dib's throat up and shined a bright light in there.

"It doesn't look that bad." Zim commented. "I'm sure, with time, those scars would heal on their own." He then paused with a hum before going on. "But I'm sure I could mix a little something up to make them heal faster."

Dib smiled carefully, excitement finally building its way up in his chest at the very thought that soon, maybe, he'd be able to be fixed and not fear making a noise if he had to. All because of Zim. He reached over and took hold of Zim's hand affectionately for a thanks.

Zim smiled and set the scanner aside, gripping Dib's hand on his with both of his own, saying, "I'm not sure exactly if I can make this medicine to heal your throat, but all scars fade eventually, or at least smooth over. So when way or another you will be talking again eventually."

Dib pulled himself up and threw his other arm around Zim, greatly relieved by his findings that normal human machines could never do.

The human gave Zim yet another kiss on the cheek before he hugged back again. Oh, if only Zim knew how much Dib cared for him, especially at this moment! Or rather, little did Dib know that Zim knew exactly how much Dib cared.

Zim moved one of his hands to hug Dib back, his antennae twitching when the tingling came back, but it wasn't as stifling this time, so he ignored it and just hugged Dib with a smile. "I can't wait to hear your voice."

Dib sighed. That sounded so nice to hear.

All this time, nobody wanted to hear his voice, and all of a sudden, someone does; someone he actually wanted to speak to. It was a mutual voice want. That.. felt nice.

Zim became a little worried as his thoughts began leading off and drifting, from Dib's voice, to how he would work on this miracle scar healer if they leave before it's finished, to how he would get Dib away during the invasion.

"Dib, I want you to listen to me, ok?" The alien said sternly but with a hint of worry underneath.

Dib pulled away from Zim to once again stare at his intense sunset eyes, giving a slight nod for the importance he heard through Zim's voice.

"I don't know yet," He paused to take a breath, wondering just how to word this. "How my mission will end. The Tallest, ultimately, will make that decision or is making it now. But, if anything happens, like, something bad or strange, come straight here, ok? Don't think or do anything other than come straight here. Ok?"

Dib gave a strange look Zim's way and decided this time would be the best to sign. "Something I should be worried about?"

"Maybe," Zim said with a small smile to mask his own worry, worry that his human may get hurt in the cross fire, but surely his beloved Tallest would tell him when the invasion starts so he could get out before anything too terribly life threatening happens, right, so," Probably not, I mean, because I'm here, you know, so there's really probably nothing to worry about... but just in case, alright?"

Dib nodded, but more like it was a duty. He was getting a bad feeling about this, deep down inside, about Zim's mission. In the back of his mind, a red flag was appearing, but he wanted that red flag to just disappear and not exist at all, but it didn't help the dreaded feeling at all.

Zim wrapped both his arms around Dib, holding him tight. He didn't want anything to happen to his Dib, and nothing ever would if he had anything to say in the matter.

Dib rested his head on Zim's chest, ready for this feeling to just die over.

The tree tops whistled together, scratching the rushing wind passing by with their sharp, pointed branches. Birds sang their songs, weaving in and out the obstacles obstructing their way. The sky was the most fulfilling blue that could ever envelope a human's simple heart. It was great, Dib thought as he walked his way towards his learning passivity with almost a skip to his step. It was great, and he knew this. It was great because Dib was in love with the coolest, most caring alien in the entire world- no- universe! Those mean bullies had stopped picking on him, and he was almost seemingly getting more respect from everyone now, even if at times it seemed just for pity, or as though it was Zim they were really trying to get at.

No, the morning bugs chirped, and the air smelt pleasantly of that strange time between winter and spring when everything was being reborn again, and all was a light green in nature. He was happy. Even the buzz of the other teenagers up at the entrance way couldn't even bring him back down to reality, because for Dib, this was the perfect reality.

He stood there and waited for his Zim to show up. Smiling brightly, he just waited, and waited, rocking back and forth on the heels of his feet, ignoring the glances of those who pointed and smirked, whispering secrets of Dib-like-things. This was going to be a fantastic day, he could feel it.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Zim's lap dog, Dibbers." The familiar voice of a certain popular blonde said, her and her friends making their way to Dib. Her perfectly manicured hand was on her hip in a show of superiority, the other holding her designer hand bag over her shoulder. It was obvious she'd just got done doing her make up as all of it was still very bright and she smelled of fresh perfume.

Her friends laughed in that way girls did, that heart piercing one that could emasculate even the strongest of men. "Where's your boyfriend now?"

Dib seemed to almost falter, his nose twisting up with discontent at the smell of chemically-created rose scents. With a pinch of his brows, and an almost intimidated smile, Dib brought a meek hand up and waved at Jennifer, the leader of the girl group before him. It didn't last long before his hand found its way back to his side, and he lowered his head to secretly wonder the same question.

"Oh look," one of the lackeys behind her, Amanda, grinned and giggled. "The Dibbles is blushing! See, see? Isn't that simply adorable in a pathetic play-thing sort of way?" Her glossy pink lips turned up in a playfully dark smirk.

"Aw, is he not coming today?" Jennifer asked, moving to stand right in front of him, her perfume wafting strongly in the air and her friends got in on either side of him. They had him trapped like a scared puppy against the wall. "That's too bad. I had hoped to see him today" Her smirk almost split her face.

"Me too," Stacey play pouted, her own purple colored lips pursing. "Maybe you can make us feel better Dibby."

The teenage boy seemed to feeling really hot now, shrinking in his place, the rough brick wall sticking to his loose black trench coat his mother had given him so long ago. He couldn't see anyone beyond these girls now, and for whatever reason, they were making him feel very nervous but he couldn't exactly peg why.

He formed his lips together to ask 'how' but in this state he couldn't even realize no sound was coming out. Dib was getting just too nervous.

With a cattish grin, Amanda leaned up against her shoulder on the wall. "You know what? I think Dibbers can. What do you think, Jennifer?" It was almost intimidating the way that none of them took their intense stares off of Dib's skittishly darting eyes.

"Oh, I think that would be perfect." Jennifer said, her smirk never leaving her face. She tried to look friendly, but still in control, it didn't work, at least, not the friendly part. "How about it Dibbly? Would you help us cheer up?"

Dib winced. These girls liked Zim. Surely it wouldn't be too bad. Maybe just give them Zim's number or something like that, in which he probably would give them a false number anyway. In any respect, these girls probably wouldn't let him go before he agreed and made them happy. Where was Zim? Dib just sighed and nodded, making the girl's smiles go even brighter, if not just for a second.

"Hey, you know, there was something I've always wondered about Dibs, Jennifer." Stacey said, voice slightly pitched in the way people did when they were fake acting purposefully, making people pay attention and making them worry.

"Oh, and what's that, Stacey?" Jennifer asked, also putting on the fake acting voice.

"Well, I was wondering if what people said about Dib was true." Stacey said, motioning to his pants, making Dib wonder what people have been saying about his pants... or perhaps what was in his pants.

What had they said? What did they say? Dib wrung his head this way and that, trying to read such information off of the girl's look as he pushed himself even harder up against the rough brick wall.

"Jennifer," Faking a sweet voice, Amanda moved even closer. "I think that since the Dibble's is being so cooperative, we should find out," She and Stacy then grabbed either of Dib's arms, securing them, to Dib's fear, so he wouldn't be able to move. "But I'm sure that's just hear-say. I mean, after all, surely that isn't the case if he's going with Zim, hm?"

"I guess we'll just have to take a look then." Jennifer sighed, faking an apologetic look at Dib. She then replaced it with a malicious look and put her hands on either side of Dib's hips, securing her thumbs on the belt loops.

This was too much! Dib withdrew a breath of air, his eyes growing large and white, lined with fear at what this girl could possibly be doing. He struggled frugally, while the fabric so snug against his waist got yanked down due to the fingers and hands at the most popular girl at school.

His pants, now to his knees, left him vulnerable. It seemed as if all of outside school had froze and gone quiet, the sky no longer even blue as his cotton zombie-printed boxers were exposed for all to see. The only thing Dib could seem to hear was his heart's strong pulse pounding in his ears.

Jennifer and her friends held back laughter at Dib's choice of underclothing and pulled them down slowly, teasingly.

Dib's eyes tightly went closed now as his legs frantically squirmed for protection on his boxers. This was torture! His underwear was going lower.. and lower... and lower to the point this was becoming unbearable. And so slow! He wanted to scream stop and to get his boxers back up right this instant! Oh, where was Zim? Where was he? He began quickly breathing in the heat of his blush.

Then, without warning, Jennifer yanked the zombie-print boxers down to rest with Dib's pants. After taking a short look the girls began to giggle frantically, putting a hand over their mouths or on their cheeks.

"Either it's true that Dib shaves down there or he's a really late bloomer!" Stacey howled, doubling over almost.

It took two seconds more for Amanda to break out laughing, backing away from Dib's free arms to put her hands to her face. "I can't believe it! I absolutely can't believe it!" She repeated again and again. "It's,- it's kind of cute! Zim still likes the kids!" She broke out laughing even harder.

Dib on the other hand, stood there feeling vulnerable, violated and petrified. His nose and eyes started heating up incredibly, and he kept his eyes close to prevent any liquid from escaping. In an instant, despite his sincere state of shock, he bent down and began his efforts to try and pull his pants back up.

"Oh Dibbling you're adorable!" Jennifer laughed hysterically, drawing attention to their molestation of the poor boy, causing other's around to laugh as well. "Tell me, does Zim know how... underdeveloped you are or is he just a nice person!?"

Dib had to do all he could to prevent the tears from showing as he finally got his pants back up, but that didn't last for long. Amanda had snatched up his glasses, and with a grin tossed them to Stacey. "Answer the girl, Dibby!"

Stacy giggled and put the glasses on her nose, instantly becoming nauseated and taking them off.

Jennifer put a finger under Dib's chin to lift his chin, smiling and asking, "Well, what is it, Dibbles? Have you two done it yet?"

The male finally opened his glossy, reddening eyes, unframed by his stolen glasses. He sniffled and stared at the girl. Her look was so fierce it could burn a hole into him, and although he was practically free to go, her eyes pinned him there.

It was then Dib just decided it didn't matter anymore. Of course, he always knew this sort of stuff didn't really matter, but that it just affected him and hurt his feelings, but that he should embrace it anyway, but now, now, after looking Jennifer straight in her evil, cunning little eyes, he just felt warn out again. His shoulders dropped, and he stopped sniffling. It occurred to him that everybody was like this girl here. She was tearing down something because she felt it was, not only in her power, but her responsibility being that she liked Zim's only, and best of friends of whom he happened to also be in love with.

Everybody was like her. Taking what they thought they deserved to take, and demolishing that they thought no longer need to stand. Dib was just the unfortunate useless appendage of the world. For him to be lost, it wouldn't even really matter. Who cared if everyone saw his stuff under his boxers in front of the whole school? They'll laugh about it, and make fun of him for sure, but as long as Dib didn't care about showing his stuff, it didn't really matter, right? Dib was just useless like that, to the point he could do that.

These people didn't matter though, either, or at least, not to Dib. They were never his friends, and the likely hood is, they'll never be his friends. They'd never stand up for him, and they'd only continue to try to put him down at any chance they got. Everybody like was like this. Everybody in the world, he even bet.

He had to get out. He had to belong. This was an impossible disease buzzing in his soul since birth that he's never gotten along and the beatings only got worse as he grew up. More and more people, more and more hits, more and more stunningly hateful words.

It shocked him that Zim still liked him despite everything like this. He was special; he didn't seem to want to kill him; and he was the only thing that made Dib feel like he belonged. Perhaps he did belong with just that, aliens.

"We're waiting for an answer!" Amanda snapped when she began getting nervous at Dib's apathetic look. The boy, however, just slowly shook his head.

Jennifer giggled and pushed Dib's head to the side. "I knew it. Not even Zim, as nice as he is, would want to go all the way with someone as pathetic as Dib. You here that? No one wants you, loser." Jennifer then stepped back, her girlfriends taking their places behind her, Stacey tossing Dib's glasses and Amanda tossing her hair back. "See you at lunch."

Dib just stood there, hearing their footsteps clicking away, and smelling the perfume slowly leave him before he finally let out a heavy breath and fell to the ground. He heard the school-bell ring but he didn't care. Perhaps he could just go back and stay at home today? It would be impossible without his glasses to pay attention to his teachers anyway, and it wasn't like Zim was there. He didn't show up at all this morning through that whole time those girls had harassed him.

He sighed and brought his hands back to his pants, pulling them all the way back to their normal state before leaning against the brick wall. People passed them in chatter, some of them giggling, but nobody really saw what happened, thankfully to Dib due to the girl's surrounding him.

Maybe Zim really didn't want him, though? Although he knew Jennifer was only saying that because she liked Zim and didn't like Dib, it was still highly possible, and made sense. Oh, and thus, he'd never do it. Nobody would want to do it with him anyway. Zim certainly hasn't. The way that the girls sounded was as though normal people would be doing it by now, but he was only fourteen!

That didn't keep him from feeling alone and stranded, however.

Zim/Jennifer/Stacey: Me

Dib/Amanda: Kriss

Review!