They Corrupt Them

Chapter 24

A few hours later Dib closed his laptop, having saved a few of the videos to his hard drive. Red stood and stretched a little. "It seems history has been repeating itself since the beginning." Dib nodded and stood as well. "I think by the time Zim came around they decided to make his PAK extra special...defective, hoping that if Miyuki were to find out, things would be extra bad. Though, they didn't take into account that they couldn't kill a defective PAK as fast as they could a normal one." Dib said as he exited the room with Red; he smiled when he saw Zim and hugged him. "You guys have fun?" He asked, noticing they were both covered in dough. Red arched his brow as he looked at them both. "You both are a mess." He chuckled.

"We are failures, that's what we are," Purple says a little dejectedly, showing off him and Zim's donuts of many shapes. "Zim agrees, even the cooks left after a while," he says, and Red chuckled a little. "Well, at least you both had some fun." He said and kissed Purple's cheek, and Dib smiled. "Yeah, there's that."

"It was fun" Purple smiles as Zim eats a misshapen donut.

"Looks like it was," Dib replied, and Red smiled, wrapping his arm around Purple. "I'm glad the both of you had fun." They nodded, and purple wanted to ask what they found but doesn't know if he should ask while Zim was present, but Zim solved that problem himself. "Soooo, find anything useful?" he asks looking up at Dib.

"There were a few interesting tidbits, aside from death after death," Dib said, and Red nodded in reply. "Apparently one of the Tallest was secretly mated to a smaller, and they had a plan to kill the control brains; Dib recovered files from PAK's that have been deactivated for years." He said, impressed with the human's skills. This earned a nod from Zim; his mate was a genius, and he felt second-hand pride for his human.

"Sounds like a plot for an Earth romantic tragedy," he said, finding it made him warm and sad to know they had probably died horribly, but they had at least found happiness for a while in each other. "It was tragic." Dib nodded, and Red spoke up. "The control brains took control of the co-tallest, made him kill the smaller then killed the other Tallest...in the end when the co-Tallest regained his control he went mad. Yelled that the control brains needed to be deactivated, what they were doing to us was wrong."

Zim nodded in reply and hummed in thought. "How did that go? Did they just assume the Tallest was a defect?" he asked, very curious as Dib spoke up. "Before a trial could be made the control brains deactivated him, deciding he was causing too much of a problem for them..." Dib said, leaving out the part where it turned out that the smaller was carrying a smeet at the time, deciding it wasn't something they should share, especially with things as they currently were.

The smaller nodded at that, it was tragic to be sure, and he had a feeling it would inspire many nightmares if he weren't careful, Purple picked up on what wasn't said however and covers his mouth the strange new instincts making him want to be sick. He takes Red's hand to calm himself and know that such a thing should not happen anymore they were free now. The red-clad Tallest frowned and gave his hand a squeeze; he nuzzled him a little and kissed his cheek, realizing that Purple could read between the lines when it came to a few things. "As for defectives...you are actually the first one," Dib said. "And if it weren't for your PAK being defective you would have been dead long ago." He said as he pulled Zim closer.

Red nodded. "Yes, I'm guessing your PAK read the signals a different way."

Zim didn't really know how to take that; he had felt better knowing there were others 'defectives' like him, but now he was the only one? He didn't know whether to be happy no other lived like him or sad that he was the only one who lived like him. "That is good..." He said, unsure how to take that really. Purple accepts Red's comfort and wonders why the death of one with a smeet affected him so harshly even though they never met or had a chance of meeting.

"Doesn't mean you were the only one..." Dib said. "I still need to go through all the PAK files." He admitted. "Because I believe what Tallest Smur went through messed with him a bit and he ended up defective, his mind wasn't exactly the same after what he did...and he did something to the control brain system which I haven't looked into yet."

"I hope it was painful for them, they deserve it," Purple says, a little bitterly. Zim's antennae perk at his tallest' tone, looking over before walking over and rubbing his tummy to soothe the taller Irken. Purple relaxes at this since Zim's antennae started oozing the sweet scent to assure its matriarch that there were still others who needed his protection.

Red nodded and pet his antenna soothingly as Dib nodded and bit his lip, wondering if the other had picked up on what he and Red hadn't shared; he figured that why he seemed so upset. "I'm guessing he tried to put a virus in them because they were in pain for an hour...though that doesn't explain why he was messing with the DNA chamber in the smeetery before his death."

"That is interesting..." Zim said, letting Purple go when he felt the other relax; he didn't understand why his taller was upset but he didn't like it. "We should figure that out."

At that, Red gave a little nod at the statement before turning to Dib. "Once you figure that out, report back with the information." He said, wanting to know everything that had been hidden from them for Tallest knew how long; he really wanted to know more information. "I'm on it." The human assured, and Purple gave a grateful nod as grabbed one of the donuts he and Zim had made, eating it. "Did you two find anything else of interest?" he asks feeling mostly recovered from his little earlier attack.

This time it was Red who spoke, having been looking over Dib's shoulder as he looked up all the information they found. "About ten years after the incident with Smur, there was a smaller; he was a very smart smaller; he was asked to rule by Taller Yix and Zule's side; Lem was his name. He had this knowledge, and they wouldn't make a move without knowing whether their plans would go up in smoke. One night he went to warn them of something that was going to happen involving the control brains." Red said, and Dib thought for a moment.

"Wait, I think the two cases are connected like maybe he was passing on what he knew to one of the smeets...perhaps he cloned his own DNA but made sure to pair it with a smaller...then gave it the knowledge?" He wondered, all this uncovered history was just so exciting, and he knew one of these days things would all be out in the open.

Red thought about it and nodded. "Yes, and the control brains weren't sure which smeet it was so they had to wait till they knew for sure." He added, and Zim nodded, wide-eyed as he heard the attempts others had tried over the years to find freedom. They were planned, calculated carefully, crafted and what the had done; how he and this generation…everything was a just pure accident and go with the flow. It was an odd feeling in his spooch that made him realize again just how quickly everything could have fallen apart.

"it probably ended horribly," Purple said, voice full of pessimism, but he wanted to hear the stories and others just so he could maybe feel better about how they finally succeeded. His thoughts were interrupted when the human spoke up; his antenna perked as he looked at him. "Almost succeeded," Dib said. "Yix and Zule listened to what he had to say privately, they somehow knew he was telling the truth, though they weren't sure how...so they came up with something that would get rid of the control brains once and for all. Unfortunately, they didn't account for the few Irkens who were jealous of how the Tallest paid more attention to a smaller's every word.

One day when they were going to execute their plan, they went to Lem's room to see that his PAK was ripped from his back and he was a bloody pulp. The Tallest were distraught, but they knew they had to do the plan on their own. While Yix inserted the virus, Zule locked it in and before the control brains could do anything they escaped, disappearing."

Red nodded at this and let the human continue with the story about the previous Tallest. "Where, we don't know...their PAK's aren't in the deactivated system so obviously they hadn't been found." He said. "The virus worked but not for long," Dib added and rolled his eyes as he added another little tidbit. "As far as we know those two Tallest are still alive, though I haven't figured out where."

That information made Zim a little happy, that not all had been defeated, though the part of the smaller being killed by jealous Irkens made him think. He had gone through something similar when working with Tallest Miyuki; he was just glad no one saw fit to kill him. "So, a bittersweet ending... maybe now the empire is free, they may visit?" A thought struck purple then, and he spoke up. "If this isn't the first time they have been given a virus how can we be sure they stay down with this one?" he said, knowing if they weren't cautious enough the reactivation of the control brains would be devastating.

"Because the one we worked on was stronger," Dib said. "This one literally killed the system...the ones they worked on weren't strong enough and didn't have enough code to work properly." He had studied it, and it definitely didn't have the specs that the virus they gave the control brains had.

Purple nodded in acceptance and Zim sought to assure him further. "Oh yes, it was a powerful code! Zim helped make it himself! And Dib, Skooge, and Rift, we all worked on it to make it as seamless as possible, my Tallest!" he says proudly, and Purple smiled at him. "Good work, Zim."

"You all did pretty good work," Red replied, glad things had worked well, and Zim nodded, knowing it was the perfect amount of right circumstances that had allowed them to win. "Of course, this was the first time we were able to work on the virus in an uncontrolled area, everyone before had no Resisty to work with, or defectives to pretend to be dead..." Zim said, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

Dib nodded and smiled. "We succeeded where others hadn't been able to since the beginning of the control brains rule. The other Irkens who lost their lives can rest peacefully knowing that things worked in the Irkens favor for once." That received a nod from Zim, and Purple does as well, the commander Irkens that had been listening agreed completely, each putting their hands on their cardiac-spooch and feeling the sincere appreciation for their freedom built from the sacrifices of many others.

"We should make a holiday to honor them and our victory..." Purple said ad Zim spoke up. "Humans have this thing they call Independence Day and veterans day!"

"I think that would be appropriate," Dib replied.

Purple smiled at the thought. "I like it, what do you think Red?"

"I believe it's a good idea." Red smiled, approving the idea and Zim jumped for joy but started to rub his belly. "Smeet says too much emotional stuff, it wants cake."

Red nodded and smiled as he turned to the workers. "Tell the cooks to prepare a cake." He told the others, they nod and one went to do as ordered. Zim blushes, "Zim could have gone to the food court..."

"True..." Red hummed. "Ah well."

"Hey, now we can share!" Purple said, happy to take some of the cake. Zim nods and smiles. "Yes"

Dib chuckled. "I think that was Red's thought." Red nodded at this and looked around. "Yes, it was, cake for everyone~."

Zim sighed as he was getting tired of standing and tugged on Dib's jacket. "Dib should hold Zim..." He said, using wide eyes; hoping to persuade his mate into holding him. Thought Dib didn't need to be persuaded much; he smiled and picked him up, kissing his cheek. "Sorry babe, you must be tired." He said.

"Just of standing," He said, and purple almost fainted from the cuteness of the smallest Irken being held by his much taller mate; he has to turn and giggle, and Red chuckled a little, wrapping his arms around Purple as he watched the two. Dib kissed the space on Zim's face where his nose would be if he were human, and Zim smiles happily as Purple does faint, discovering his closet romantic.

Dib chuckled a little a little and looked over. "He alright?" Red sighed and shook his head as he picked the other up. "I think he fainted from the cuteness or something." He said. "Or how romantic you two were being maybe, I'm not quite sure." He said, earning a blush from Zim. "Ehh sorry?" He wasn't sure if that was something to apologize for, but it was kind of nice seeing Red holding the other tallest, which should have looked awkward since they were the same height but it worked.

Red looked Purple over. "He looks rather cute passed out like this." He said, antenna wiggling a little. "Well if Zim had to pass out, he would think it was best from happiness than any other reason because there is no freak-out," he said, curling in Dib's arms as the human gave a small chuckle. "I think he was fainting because I was romantic," Dib replied. "But I guess he was happy too."

The red-clad Tallest chuckled softly and sighed as he looked at the smaller. "Let's just go to the food court and hope he wakes up at the smell of cake." Zim nodded and allowed himself to be carried, no one really noticed that a few of the commander Irkens passed out to and were being slightly laughed at by their fellow workers.

Purple awoke halfway there but pretends to still be passed out, quite liking being carried; though the occasional twitch of his antenna was giving him away. It appeared his lover had noticed though as he received a small purr and a nuzzle to his skull. He raised one of his hands to red's shoulder so he could lean up and cuddle him back. "I'm a terrible actor." This received a small chuckle from Red who just sighed and looked at him with a smile. "Mm…but I don't care." He said and kissed him softly.

Red purred happily and sat down at the table, holding the other in his lap and Purple moved so he was comfortable on top of him so that way they could share as the cake came. The smaller sat on Dib's own lap, leaning forward since he was shorter. "Ooh, it's a strawberry cake!" He said, it was actually something else, but his translator made it strawberry so Dib could have a relative guess on the taste.

Dib nodded and held him as he took a bite of his food. "Mm..." He said, noising that he liked the cake, it was a little different than strawberry but tasted about the same. "Pretty good." Zim nodded in reply, eating his own as Purple was feeding Red, not really hungry at the moment. He was on cloud nine and had already forgotten Dib and Zim, and when the cake was finished he laid his head on Red's, and nuzzled him, entwining their antennae; this caused Zim to sit straighter, observing this new act of affection and rubbed his own antennae, slightly wondering what such a sensation would be like. The human noticed and then looked at Zim's antenna. "Must be what two Irkens do when they are mated." He observed that was indeed interesting…

The smaller nodded, not precisely jealous as being with Dib had its own unique set of advantages; he was just curious, but it was a curiosity that he could comfortably live with. "I would guess so..." he observed them and knew that on some level they are aware that this public display of affection may be uncomfortable to some, but they must push a little to normalize acts of intimacy and that their leaders encouraged such. To a scientist like Zim, it was all beautiful and fascinating.

Dib noted this and knew that unlike two Irkens who bonded with antenna touching, Zim and him didn't really have that advantage, and suddenly a thought came to him, maybe he could work on making some antenna that would be like an Irkens, and it would act like a set which would connect to receptors in the brain. He put the thought away to work on later, deciding it would be an excellent project to work on.

Once Zim had his fill of seeing his leaders all mushy, he turned back toward the cake, taking another slice. "Want another Dib-love?" he asked, looking up at his human and Dib looked at him; his thoughts interrupted. "Sure." He said and took a bite, eating it before kissing Zim's cheek and rubbing his belly. The Irken purred, leaning back into his human's hold, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the belly rub; he had a feeling he would miss the action once he had his smeets.

When the cake was finished, Dib held the Irken close and nuzzled his neck. "I love you guys." He said, referring to the smeets as well, this earned an even louder purr from the smaller Irken. There was a small movement in his belly, and he hummed happily. "Zim is certain that was an 'I love you too.'" He replied, antenna releasing the sweet smell as Dib kissed the appendages lightly. They wiggle happily, and Zim turns his head to nuzzle Dib happily, all unaware of jealous eyes that dump their lunch and quickly leave the cafeteria.

Keal walked into the cafeteria and arched his brow at a few of the jealous looking Irkens leaving; he rolled his eyes and sighed, apparently, they hadn't found any mates yet. He knew sooner or later they would be hit by the love bug and not be feeling that. "Romancing our mates and making everyone jealous, are we?" He asked, amused and Dib looked up when he heard him. "Oh hey…" He looked around and noticed a few had left, humming in thought, well…it didn't matter too much, it was okay that they made some jealous.

Zim opened his eyes and felt a bit guilty, but resolved that he will help them find the right partner for themselves sooner or later. Purple also snapped out of his little haze. "Well, someday they won't have to be jealous," he said; his own thoughts mirroring Zim's, it was going to be their job to help others find healthy relationships so they too could be happy.

Keal chuckled and sat beside Dib. "Yes, eventually, I came from a sparring match with Kull, though it didn't last as long as it usually does, because his eyes caught sight of someone he found attractive." He hummed and smiled, the love bug indeed wouldn't be leaving anytime soon he was sure.

Zim laughed at that "Ah, love blinds many, as many famous poems on earth say I almost wish I had cared to remember them." Purple nods, "Is poetry a form of courtship there?"

Dib nodded. "Sometimes." He replied.

"Interesting," Red replied.

Purple thought on this, some Irkens were actually competent at poetry, maybe that could be a form of courtship they could encourage amongst their race?

Keal hummed in thought. "Poetry...do you think Gaz would enjoy some?" He wondered, and Zim nodded in reply. "Gaz may not admit it, but she is a closet romantic; if you get her the right poem, I am certain she would be pleased," Zim said, knowing Gaz would try to hide it under many layers of denial if asked, but he may have read her diary once or twice.

The taller Irken nodded in reply. "Sounds good." He replied.

Zim internally laughs at his latest plot to get Gaz and Keal closer, and Purple watched Zim, deciding then and there they are probably going to take different approaches to help people, but the diversity will be useful in helping everyone. "So Keal, does this mean you are going to pursue the Dib's sister in earnest?" he questioned as if asking about the weather but was really wanting to know.

Keal smiled. "I like her." He admitted. "She's beautiful; her laugh...that whimsical giggle." Dib stopped what he was doing and looked at the other in confusion. "Whimsical giggle?" He asked, arching his brow as he listened to the other Irken beside him.

Zim and purple both cover their mouths and wiggle a little, stifling what sounds suspiciously like fangirl squeals. As Keal continued to speak. "Mm... yes, it set's the antenna a buzz and fills my spooch with joy, such joy I feel," Keal said.

Dib shook his head. "He definitely loves sick."

The smaller nodded at this and smiled. "Well, you are already doing well in the poetry department! Keep up the good work!" He said, noticing Gaz walking in but doesn't mention it. "Yes, I shall keep that in mind." Keal replied, smiling as Purple patted him on the shoulder and snickered "Your fair lady has arrived, you might want to go greet her and make sure she doesn't order anything poisonous." Purple said, pointing to the food line where Gaz was since she hadn't seen them.

Keal looked over and nodded before going over to her. "Hello Gaz." he greeted, and she looked over surprised. "Hey Keal," Gas said, looking at the menu, "I was just going to order something I had before but if you have time, want to help me find something edible?" She asked, taking his hand. He gave a small nod and squeezed her hand lightly. "I will tell you whether it's okay or not." He assured, earning a nod and Gaz pointed to something that resembled a pomegranate, except it was a vivid purple "What about that?"

He looked at it and hummed. "Not that." He replied. "But the next will be safe." He assured, and she then points to a milder blue one. "That one?" she asked if that was the safe one she decided that fruit would be the easiest way to get food here without dying of a sugar overdose.

"that one is safe." He replied.

"Thanks," she says ordering it and paying for it with some monies Dib had given her. "Now just to see if it tastes good..." Keal got the fruit and handed a piece to her. "here you go, try it." Gaz took it and takes a bite out of it slowly; it was juicy, and she had to devour it up or make a mess; like almost all of the Irkens food it was sweet, but it had enough sour to it that it was enjoyable. "I like it."

Keal nodded and smiled. "It is not as sugary as most, so you won't have to deal with a sugar high." He assured, handing her the rest of the fruit. "Great," she said happily and begins eating the other slices. "Did you want some?" she offered to hold some out.

"Sure." Keal took a piece and ate it.

Gaz found she was happy sharing her food with him, she usually hated it; she remembered countless times seeking vengeance on Dib for eating her pizza or taking the last soda, but sharing with Kael did nothing but making her warm, and she liked it a lot. "You ruin me" she muttered, eating more of her fruit.

This made the Irken chuckle softly as he looked at her. "I hope in a good way?" He hummed, putting his arm around her.

"I would have punched you if it wasn't" Gaz replied, smiling at him. "So, what are you up to besides helping me find decent food?"

"Well I just finished sparring, so I came in here to refill on some food, I was seated with the tallest, Zim, and your brother," Keal said. "This when Zim pointed out you were here so I figured I better offer my services in helping you find the right food that wouldn't hurt you."

How valiant of you." Gaz said, kissing him on the cheek, "Keep that up and I might feel like a princess." she smiled.

"Maybe that was my goal." Keal smiled as Gaz then pet his antennae in a relaxing way. "Well I am impressed, for a newly emotional species you sure are picking up romance fast," she said, earning a little hum from Keal as well as a little purr. "It was in our nature all along, it's unfortunate that it was pushed out of us by the control brains."

She nodded in understanding. "Well, I am glad you have it now in any case. Now I just got to be more romantic myself." She said, more encouraged to finish the little gift she had been building for Kael since the night she came back from her date.

Keal smiled and kissed her cheek as they went to sit down. "Oh Keal, we meant to tell you," Red said as the tech Irken sat down, remembering the earlier conversation between the four of them. "We think we are going to be stationed closer to Earth, especially with Zim working on his halfway house and our scientists working with Dib's father on bettering the environment...we also figure it won't be so far away and you can visit Gaz anytime."

Keal looked at him and smiled. "Really?" Gaz perked up at the news, this means she had more time to finish her gift. "That's cool," she said, trying to hide her excitement, but Zim saw it and smiled smugly, knowing that she was indeed happy with the other.

Dib smiled as well, glad that his sister was happy; he hadn't seen her like that in a long time; he could tell that Keal was even more pleased. The Irken was glad there wouldn't be more distance between them, and he could visit with her more.

Zim wiggled his antennae happily, knowing that him and Dib's plan to help Gaz find a mate was so far a success; it pleased him more than he thought to see her happy and not her usual apathetic and scary Gaz-human self.

Purple noticed how just the slightest bit of more closeness affected the couples and knew eventually they would have to work a system for all Irkens to be near their mates, maybe an intricate teleportal network? He decided not to worry about it at this time since they still had so much else to do.

Red kissed his cheek and smiled, a sigh escaping his lip as he knew he needed to get back to work soon, but he would snuggle with Purple until then. His mate rested on his shoulder for fifteen or so more minutes as he noted the growing lunch crowd that would be in soon. "Ready to get back to work my love?" Purple asked, nuzzling his lover's temple.

"I'm ready," Red replied, purring softly as he kissed him again as Purple purred before sliding out of his lover's lap, hovering before he touches the ground; though he ditched the corset he had been wearing a loose dress like a robe that still covered his skin but looked a lot more comfortable, and it was. "Well, let's get you to it, don't want it to pile up on you like that one time." He laughed, remembering when a tower of paperwork had fallen on Red giving him enough paper cuts to have to go to the med bay.

That bit of information made Red groan in annoyance. "Don't remind me." He replied as he got up, hovering as well; he tried to make sure he did the paperwork and put it up on time, so he didn't have such a big pile like that again. His mate smiled softly, taking Red's hand to start floating off. "I am just teasing, we both know you learned your lesson."

Red chuckled a little and tangled their fingers. "Worst lesson ever." He replied. "But I thank you for helping out with what you could."

Purple blushed a little, the paperwork he did for Red while he was gone had been all not appropriately filled, turned in to wrong places and some had soda spilled on it; it was a nightmare. Red knew about the messed-up work, but he knew that Purple had tried his best at least and that was all that mattered. The purple-clad Tallest laid his head-on top of Red's shoulder, and closed his eyes, trusting the other to lead him. "I would do it again if necessary, but you might have a rebellion if I tried."

Red chuckled. "Perhaps I will figure out another system." He replied as he led the other down the hall, smiling as Purple purred against his shoulder. "Just don't ever get hurt again, so I don't have to do that icky paperwork, and we'll be fine." Purple giggled, and Red smiled a little and kissed him. "I promise, love."

Purple smiled as they arrive, letting Red get to his stuff and decided to start making his own plans, so he got a little tablet and started making a list of what needed to be done. "Are Zim, Dib, and Gaz leaving us today?" he asked, wondering if they will leave and the massive will get there eventually. Red went to sit at his desk and looked up when the other spoke, getting a paper in front of him. "I believe so, though Dib will need to stock up on food for the three-day trip. 777 requested a ship since he wanted to go to Earth too and he knew there would most likely not have enough room in Zim's voot with three people in there."

"I can take care of that," Purple said, kissing Red's cheek. "See you later~," he said, going to talk to the food suppliers first since they will have the most work. "See you." Red smiled and went to work once Purple had left the room.

Purple wandered through the halls saying hi every now and then to the Irkens; he noticed that they were beginning to respond more positively than before and that made him happy. He liked this much better than fear he hugged himself in happiness before making it to the food Irkens; he began putting in the orders of food for the trip, ensuring they tripled the rations to account for Zim's eating before going to order a voot to be prepared for 777. He came across a tech who nodded at this, deciding to go to the garage to make one of the spare voot cruisers, getting it ready for 777 to fly it. The Tallest gave a satisfied nod, thanking them before floating out, deciding to go find some snacks for Red since it was getting near his snack time.

~0~0~

Zim was sitting in the Massive's laundry room doing everyone's laundry; he noticed how warm the dryers were and since Dib had to go get something. He looked to make sure no one is around before climbing on one and curling on it like a cat; he would move when he heard someone, but of course, he fell asleep on it. A few minutes later Dib came back into the laundry room and chuckled when he saw Zim sleeping on the dryer; he sighed and shook his head. "If he weren't an alien I would assume he was a cat." He said to himself.

Gaz walked in just then, not always trusting Zim alone with laundry ever since the time he made all her purple clothes pink. "Well, Irkens purr and everything; maybe they are some odd colonial insect/feline things." She suggested, and Dib hummed, smiling as he gave the nod. "Distant cousins." He decided and got him off the dryer, taking him into his arms.

Zim curled into Dib's arms, antennae doing a smell check before he settles and purrs softly. Dib kissed the top of his head and looked to see if he was finished with the laundry, the clothes were in the dryer; he had been sleeping on, and they looked beautiful but had three minutes to go. "I bet Zim only likes doing laundry so he can pile them up and sleep in the pile of warm, soft, clean things," Gaz says petting the Irken's antennae lightly; she had almost caught him once but since she didn't know she hadn't sneaked and he had crawled out already.

"Probably." Dib smiled and looked at Gaz. "So, I talked to Dad. Apparently, Gir made his party and dad was pretty hungover." He chuckled, and Gaz laughed at that. "Wonder if he got laid too, though I doubt any amount of alcohol would get him there...poor guy, but a party with Gir; those are pretty rad," she said, having been kidnapped by the robot a few times over the years to go.

Dib shook his head and sighed. "I'm surprised Gir hadn't gotten Zim discovered by now, crazy robot." He said, though he had to admit, now he was glad that never happened. Gaz ppffttss "Zim could probably parade around without a disguise and just say its 'a skin condition' and get away with it, if that didn't work he's a dedicated cosplayer; people are idiots."

"True," Dib replied, smiling as he held Zim in his arms. "Oh, also to open Zim's base up as a halfway house we're going to move somewhere with open space so we can make it bigger, though we're staying within the city." Gaz nodded at this and thought for a moment. "There was that section of the city that Tak built that doomsday thing on, we could get rid of the building and take its place" she suggested.

"Yeah, that would be a good idea," Dib replied, having not thought about it, but he was glad that Tak's little building was still around so they could move it out and build something new. The dryer goes off with a loud ding causing Zim to jump almost falling from Dib's arms. The human cursed and kept hold of Zim. "Whoa, hold on." He said, keeping him from falling.

Zim squirmed a little before remembering he was doing laundry and it was Dib holding him; he then went slack "Heh Zim is sorry...he can be put down now?"

"Yeah." Dib kissed him before letting him down. "Need help folding?"

Zim nodded. "if the Dib and Gaz want to help." He said, getting the clothes out and hugging them by the armfuls, antennae running over them in joy and Dib smiled. "I want to." He replied and took a few of the clothes, folding them up.

Gaz starts folding too, mostly hers; but if she folded a few of Zim's; she made no show of it, the Irken smiled at his family and folded what he could. "Zim thanks you both!"

"You're a welcome, babe." Dib smiled, holding his own clothes, then some of Zim's. "We should probably start buying baby stuff once we get home." He said after a moment, and Zim nodded in reply "What colors...Zim wants none of the dull ones he has normally seen, smeets deserve happy colors." he said, and Gaz wondered if she should knit a blanket.

Dib hummed and nodded. "We'll get lighter colors." He assured, and Zim smiled happily, hugging the freshly folded warm clothes he walks with Dib and Gaz before she departed from them. "I got to finish something before we leave and I am stealing your laptop, Dib," She said, leaving no room for argument as she walked away

"Alright." He replied, putting his free arm around Zim as the Irken Dib's side while they walk. "15 monies says it's a gift for Kael."

Dib smiled. "Most likely." He replied as he took their clothes to their room and went to put their clothes away in the bags. Zim sat on the bed letting Dib take his clothes, rubbing his belly. "We are going home are you excited my sweet?" he asked, and it flutters a little against his hand making him smile. The human finished and went over; he pulled Zim's shirt up and kissed his belly a little. "You get to see grandpa little one."

It fluttered against his lips, and Zim giggled, running his hands through Dib's hair. "it is excited to meet him I think."

Dib chuckled a little. "And Gir." It flutters a little more, and Zim rubbed it a little. "I hope you calm him down a bit," he told it, and Dib hummed. "I'm sure Gir will be a good big brother." He smiled and kissed his belly again before getting on the bed and pulling Zim onto his lap.

Zim nuzzles into Dib "I am sure he will Gir, is always good when necessary..." Zim said, wrapping his arms around Dib who held him close. "Gir can't wait till we get home, he misses his master." The Irken smiled at that and sighed. "I miss him too." He admitted, rubbing his tummy; Dib was nice to cuddle with, but cuddling with Gir was unique on its own as Gir ha always tried to make him feel better. Gir in a way was his first child and partner, once Zim started treating him like one of course.

Dib kissed him and rubbed his belly a little. "My dad is taking care of him till we get home."

"Good Gir does questionable things when he is left alone," Zim said, relieved someone was with Gir while they were away. "Like get my dad drunk." Dib chuckled and sat back, leaning against the wall and Zim giggled at that information. "Yes, questionable indeed, I wonder if Gir got any funny videos; he has his own TubeYou channel. I freaked out when I discovered it because it had everything, but apparently, no one takes seriously what they see on the internet.

"Youtube." Dib shook his head and hummed. "Wow..." That was certainly something he hadn't expected; he then kissed him softly. "I have never been so glad my race is stupid." Zim kisses back knowing if they were any less so he wouldn't be here with Dib. "And Zim is never more glad they think you are insane," he said back. Dib smiled at that and nodded. "Yeah." He replied, petting his antenna a little.

Zim purred, laying on Dib. "Zim is glad Dib doesn't hate him anymore." Dib hummed happily as he continued to pet his antenna. "me too." he replied and talked with him a bit more as they snuggled, soon falling asleep in each other's arms.