Gaz couldn't be more pleased with her current situation, in Zim's lap with both of them hammering away…at video games. By her side was Gir, Pixi, and Krit all playing with her. Well, Gir wasn't actually playing they dislocated his controller because he was ruining it, but they didn't tell him anything and he stayed none the wiser. Krit was having the hardest time trying to figure out how to play but he got the hang of it better than Zim did when he first started playing. Pixi, as a robot, could get knowledge fed into her and react quickly so there was no trouble for her.
Honestly Gaz could say, without a shadow of a doubt, she was at her happiest. Last night had been quite informative thanks to Aunt Cazzma's story telling. To keep her long tale short, she met Zim when he was there on a recon mission, he had shot his own team mate at some point and they ended up having to stay there even longer while he recovered. While there Zim and his crew were given free room and board by Aunt Cazzma and from there a bond was formed between the elder Gallkin and the Irken invader though it was sort of one sided.
Aunt Cazzma adored the petite Irken, often squishing him against her chest, cuddling him, hugging him, pinching his cheeks until they were red, calling him sappy pet names. Zim however, did not like that one bit and often squirmed out of her grasp and ran away from her. Everyone made fun of him as he got dressed up by her and everything usual aunts do to their nephews but despite his distaste for it, she had taken him and his troops in and for that he was grateful. He wrote her a letter of thanks when he got home from his mission and then she sent him a letter back. They were like pen pals for a while and if he needed somewhere to go, he knew where he could always be welcomed.
Eventually time passed and he got wrapped up in his duties and him being on Earth and what have you but Aunt Cazzma never gave up hope that her, as she put, "most favoritist wittle Irksy-wirksy" would come back. So, he did and that's just about the size of that. She showed them the tavern briefly, told them that they would be safe there, no one would rat them out but if she found one who would dare, she would make sure Zim got out of there and fast. She then set them up with two rooms, one was for Krit and the robots and the other, the best room in the house, was for Gaz and Zim. Krit did not want to be alone with Gir and his hyper activity and he would be crying and crying for his master if not straight up just going over to their rooms to bother them. Then they would get mad at him for not keeping better watch of Gir and he'd get in trouble.
Zim seemed to understand Krit's plight but he too did not want Gir around unless necessary, so he commanded Gir to stay with Krit and Pixi. Gir obeyed, shockingly, but mostly because he said he lovded them. MiniMoose could just float between rooms depending. Gaz and Zim were thankful for the separation from the rest for as much as Gaz liked Pixi, Gir, and Krit and Zim found them serviceable, the two needed some alone time. Their room was spacious with a furry carpet that felt tickly but good on Gaz's feet, they had a view of the city from the hexagonal windows, and the ceilings were high to accommodate the tall guests from other planets that might stay there.
In a way it was a very 70's looking room, a lot of weird vibrant colors, the curtains had a layer of shiny flat metal pieces dangling here and there catching the light, even the lamps sort of looked like lava lamps. The bed was at least large enough so that if Gaz wanted to, she could spread her arms and legs out and not feel like she was hogging the whole bed. Aunt Cazzma had winked at them before she closed the door telling them to have fun. Gaz wrinkled her nose in distaste at the woman's boldness and tried to deny her body from heating up at the suggestion. Zim snaked his arm around her, picked her up in his arms almost like he had done when he used her as an umbrella, and crash landed with her onto the bed.
The bed was wonderfully soft and plush and conformed around their shapes like memory foam but also changed temperature based on the body upon it. It glowed a pale baby blue when it went colder and a pale pastel orange when it went hot. The bed was an odd circle shape and hovered just a notch above the ground. As Gaz landed on top of the bed, she felt it turn cold, but her body did not with Zim on top of her. He was smiling, a lipped smile that curved like a V on his face as he nuzzled into Gaz's neck. Then he started giving gentle butterfly kisses up her neck, her jawline, and her ear. She could hear a faint purr.
"Zim is happy to have his Gaz back in his arms again where she belongs. Everyday Gaz was gone Zim felt... incomplete. It took all of Zim's strength not to claw Dib's eyes out when I saw him. Claw them out and give them to his precious Gaz-love to wear as ear danglies."
"Oooooh~" Her eyes opened a bit and shimmered in delight at that. "Now there's an idea. Do you think we could make it a fashion trend? Eyes for the ears. I mean humans make coats out of endangered species, so I see no reason to have some payback."
"Is there a species of Earth creature Gaz likes best? Zim will keep it in mind to protect when he rules the planet."
"Bats. Any variety really."
"Ah yes, Zim knows of the winged night terrors that eat insects. Anything that keeps pesky mosquitos away is something to keep around."
"Yeah I know right."
Zim was still on top of her and noticing this as her statement was followed up with silence. The silence was deafening, it was choking, it felt heavy but that was because he was there, on a bed, alone, at night with her beneath him and no interruptions what so ever. Zim looked upon his human mate with an appreciative eye. She was anything a Zim could want, she had the personality, she had the brain and woof did she ever have the body. The whole package deal. Best of all she was his, all his. Love had seemed so foreign to him, so wrong. It made an Irken a defect and so to have any attachment to anyone, outside maybe the obvious kind you'd have with your leaders, was frowned upon. He had always noticed her just sitting in the background next to Dib, face shoved in her GameSlave.
She scared him in ways no person that short, that mortal should. When she stole his ship to save her brother, he grew a secret appreciation of her, when she had waved at him that's when it started. That's when the feelings happened, though he didn't know them nor recognize them. Gaz was a comet blazing across the hemisphere of his life, an explosion and at the same time the cool person who walked away from one, and every little cell of his Irken form liked it. He was bound to, Irkens are a race of fighters, how could he not like someone so good at battle, so fierce at fighting, so vengeful, so malicious, so full of hate for anyone but especially if they were lower than her?
Over the years he had on Earth he had gone from noticing her, to looking at her too long, to laughing at her making Dib hurt, them bonding over that sort of, to laughing together, to being acquaintances, and then…then that day happened. That day was one of those days in history where your destiny gives you a split path and Zim had taken the path that led to her. He could say now he had very few regrets though he was curious about what the other path would have been. Would he and Dib just argue like children forever and maybe Gaz would become a friend at best? What would have been had he not decided to play hooky? If he didn't notice Dib following him so he chased after the boy? If Dib didn't go down that street to where Gaz was? That day Zim realized something. He was so lonely until she came into his life and when she hugged him, like she needed him, he felt a rush of things he didn't comprehend because he was a silly boy back then.
All he knew was he wanted to be wanted by her, he needed to be needed by her. No one had ever needed him. He would have freaked out if anyone else hugged him but when she did and it was so clingy, he had to hug back. This human felt good in his arms, so warm was that human, that the isolation he felt was going away. When the years came by and everything turned to shit because of Dib, he had a lot of time to grow up. He loved her, he loved her from the moment she waved her little fingers at him, it just took a long time for him to realize. He weaved his claws into her hair, she tilted towards it, close-eyed and enjoying how he scratched her scalp. She let out a sleepy yawn.
"Tired?"
"Unfortunately…"
"Unfortunately?" Zim mimicked, raising one "eyebrow" at her statement. "You mean…you had wanted to…tonight?!"
"Mmmmhm…but I'm about to pass out. I can't even get up and change. This bed is so comfy…. buy one for me Ziiiim."
He laughed a short laugh with his mouth open. "Yes Yes. Zim will buy you the exact model once this is all over. Rest now, Gaz." He kneeled before the bed, taking one of her feet in hand and pulling off her shoes, lightly kissing her ankle making her giggle in a sleepy way. Still partway awake Gaz was able to lazily cling to Zim's shoulders as he moved her into a proper sleeping position. As her head hit the pillow, she looked up at him, eyelids lowering slower and slower as sleep fell upon her.
A tired, pleased smile was on her face as Zim stroked her cheek, lifted her chin, gave her a quick kiss and told her goodnight. He laid next to her only to watch her sleep, so calm, so still like a sheet of ice. Even if Gaz would have found it a bit creepy, he watched her most of the night, sighing heavily and happily. Though the work wasn't over, he felt just as at peace as Gaz looked sleeping because he had her again. The rest of the night he spent setting up the computer in the room. When Gaz awoke, she was greeted by Gir sitting on her lap and looking at her. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, Gir looked down her mouth as if searching for something.
"What are you doing here Gir? And where's Zim?"
"Uh wait wait…. I know the answer…umm he saiiiiid he saiiiiiid…."
"He'll be back, he's talking with Invader Krit right now," sounded off Pixi's voice down below the bed. She wasn't so presumptuous to believe she was even allowed on it, so she stood next to it. "He told us to come here and watch over you. I've brought you some breakfast, mistress. Cazzma was kind enough to supply me with a bowl of fresh fruit. Have your pick."
Gaz, with Gir bouncing up and down on her stomach but not in a way that hurt, looked over at the bowl and saw a lot of things she didn't recognize nor could really liken to too many earth fruits though there was one or two there. An orange and a kiwi. She wasn't the biggest fruit eater, but she was curious to try new things. Feeling risky she grabbed an oblong shaped fruit with a soft outer skin- green with red polka dots. She sniffed it then shrugged. Pixi would have not brought her anything that would cause harm, so Gaz took a bite. The interior was almost the consistency of baby food but it kind of looked like a guava with sizable black seeds.
It did not taste like a guava but like a plum, apple, and watermelon put together. The juice dripped down her face causing Pixi to procure a napkin for her. As Gaz ate, she wondered what Zim was talking to Krit about. Zim sat across his youthful Irken team mate, one leg crossed over the other and arms crossed as well but other than that his stance was relaxed, casual, more friendly than he would be with any other stranger since this was his own breed. Krit sat up bone straight with his hands folded in his lap and antenna at attention. He had not been expecting Zim to come there in his room so early and want to talk to him, HIM of all people, but he was ready for whatever he had to say.
"Well I see you're alive so that means Gir didn't try to eat you."
"No, Pixi kept him and I occupied with card tricks and games. I learned how to play Go Fish. It's fairly amusing."
"Did you not sleep at all? Zim recalls when he was younger how little energy you can sometimes have."
"No sir. I'm not tired and even if I was, I'm too excited to be tired. What about Miss Gaz, did she sleep well?"
"She's up about this time if you want to ask her yourself." Zim smiled. The boy in front of him was concerned about Gaz's wellbeing which Zim took as a good thing, the child was obviously too young for affections and even if he would have any it wouldn't be for her. Krit looked to her as he would his own Tallest with a bit of mother-to-son feeling. It was good he was concerned that meant Zim could have faith that the boy would take a bullet to protect Gaz if it ever came to it, though Zim did not like that thought. He didn't want Gaz to get wounded but he also had seen enough Irken bloodshed to last him a while and losing one so full of potential and spirit was a tragedy.
"You don't mind?"
"No. If you were like one of her Earth males, I'd mind a lot. They don't understand not to take something if it is already owned nor are they a loyal breed. Several mates, can you imagine?"
"No sir. Seems a lot of trouble."
Zim and Krit talked a little bit more before heading over to where Zim was staying with Gaz. He knocked on the door and explained he had Krit with him just in case Gaz was not "decent" when she said come in, he did so. Gir was jumping on the bed talking about monkeys with Pixi looking at him with a flat, tired of his shit face. Gaz was bent over on the floor, on hands and knees, messing around with some wiring, as it appeared she was trying to connect her gaming devices to the computer and the computer was assisting her. She plugged in something then stood, hands on her hips feeling successful.
"Just in time, I finished setting it up so we could play together. I even got controllers for everybody."
"You did all that in such a short time? Will you EVER cease amazing meeeeee?"
Krit looked over at Zim with a blink because of the way he strained his words. It was taking a little getting used to. Gaz pat the floor which told Zim she wanted him there and that's how she got to where she was now, in Zim's lap- her favorite seat, playing a multiplayer fighting game. She and Zim were on one team and Krit and Pixi on another team. Gir was on no one's team but he didn't even care to notice as he was having enough fun just pressing buttons at random. The gory death moves were a hit amongst Zim, Gaz, and even Krit though Pixi could live without all the blood splattering on the screen. Zim's eyes were narrowed and his tongue was sticking out the side of his mouth as he smashed the buttons memorizing the combos well enough, but Gaz was still better. Not that it mattered they were on the same team anyways. Obviously, they were winning but Pixi was stiff competition being a robot even if Krit was slowing her down. They had just won again causing both Gaz and Zim to raise their hands and cry out in celebration.
"VICTORY FOR ZIM!"
"and Gaz!" She added on with a smug smile that didn't go away when Zim nuzzled into her cheek and against her ear before kissing it.
"Yes, and Gaz too."
Krit sighed, leaning back against the chair. He had failed so many times against them, it was exhausting, though mentally stimulating and he supposed in its own way good training for his hands and eyes. A knock came to interrupt their gaming session and with it a voice that made Zim's antenna go flat against his head.
"It's me, Auntie Cazzma. Are you two up yet? Do you need anything? Food perhaps? Or a change of sheets? Towels?"
Zim groaned and rolled his eyes. "Nooooo, we are fiiine." He sounded like a whining teen almost, it made Gaz chuckle. It was kind of like she was his mom and bothering him all day about stuff he didn't need nor want.
"Well, could you two come down at some point and say hi to people? You can't keep your cute mate locked up forever, you know."
"Watch me," Zim growled against Gaz's neck. She used her fingers to shoo him away from her in a playful manner.
"I'll come back in an hour, you should have more than enough time to get ready and come downstairs. Bring the cute boy with you too. Just bring everyone."
Krit raised an eyebrow. Cute boy? Well she couldn't mean Gir so it must mean him. She kept calling him cute it was such a strange thing for the little soldier to be lowered down to the level of wording given to babies and fuzzy pets. He wasn't insulted as he did not think it would be right of him to get upset at someone who offered them safety and a home. Still it wasn't something he liked. Gir crawled onto Zim's back then onto his head, lying flat against it as his face appeared in Zim's line of vision.
"I want to meet all the peoples."
"Off of my head, Gir. Zim commands you."
"But it's so soft like a bean bag."
"Zim is not a bag of beeeeans! Off of my head!"
"Gir," Gaz sharply said, eyes on the robot. She snapped her finger. "Off."
"Yes Mistress!" The robot said, eyes red and saluting, then going back to cyan as he climbed down Zim's back and went to try and climb on top of Krit instead who was a little more willing or he just didn't care.
"How did you do that?"
"Snapping? You put your thumb and finger together-"
"No no. You have such a tight grip on him. What's your secret?"
"I put the fear of Gaz in him. He knows better than to defy me over and over. Isn't that right Gir?"
Gir was sitting on Krit's shoulder, one hand on his neck and the other on his cheek, caught mid climb. He turned, blinked his cyan eyes and answered in his usual happy -go-lucky dumb sounding way, "You're scary but I looooove yooouuu. I LOVES YOOOOOUUUU."
"Ahh! Gir you're right next to my hearing sensors please stop!" Krit winced and it didn't help that Gir's metal claws were not friendly to the skin.
"So, he fears you…and loves you…much like Ziiiim."
"Actually, it's more like a child but close enough, I guess. Welp," Gaz replied, stretching until she heard a pop and a crack, "I should go ahead and get ready anyways. I've been in the same clothes for two days. Does this place have running water so I can shower or are the Gallkins as afraid of it as you are?"
"Zim is not afraid of it, Zim fears nothing, EVERYTHING fears Zim. Besides, it's raining water mixed with filthy harmful Earth chemicals that causes it. Purified water stings but it is not as bad. Bathroom facilities are over there," He explained, pointed a clawed finger towards a door.
"So, we'll never be able to go swimming or anything then?" Gaz was opening her trunk as she spoke rifling around for her undergarments and other essentials. As far as clothing it worked almost the same as it did for Zim she could design anything, and it would be made for her only she couldn't go in the pod the light rays were potentially harmful to her. So, the computer would have a separate pod with a mold to it shaped like her body and it would come out that way. Also, she could buy clothes too, but she doubted the UPS guy could track her down all the way here.
"Oh Zim can go swimming just not in putrid Earth water, not without intense torturous paaaiin. There's a cave area around here that has water-like stuff I can swim in without the fear of death."
"Cool. We should go." Gaz was holding onto the drawing pad making outfit after outfit until she felt well stocked with clothes.
"Gaz we are wanted criminals, we can not go around sightseeing."
"Psh. I want to see everything there is to see here while I can enjoy it. I don't want Dib to make me feel like a prisoner again when he's not even here."
She opened the door to the bathroom and viewed what there was. More swirly designs, more weird shapes, more loud colors, and the shower curtain had orange squiggly flower shapes on them. The tub had so many knobs and buttons it was over whelming, but each was labeled with small pictures. A clear-blue water drop was next to one of the knobs signifying that water would come out of it while another had a goopy drippy blob which meant something that looked like that would come out. There were shampoos, soaps, wash cloths, the works. She closed the door leaving Zim there with everyone else. He heard the sounds of the shower turning on and cringed. Krit was sitting there looking miserable because Gir was asking him a million questions. Pixi felt his pain and pat his knee understandingly.
"You know Krit, I noticed you don't have bad skills in this game. How would you like some real battle training with the amazingness that is Zim?"
"Oh sir!" His voice went higher and his eyes lit up, full of joy and longing at this choice opportunity. "I would be honored to be your pupil."
"Can I go toooo?"
"No Gir when I train Krit you can stay with Gaz and Pixi and if you even so much as interrupt...Zim will…. punish you. No taquitos for a month."
"Wha…no…. I need them master…don't take them away from me…" Gir begged, eyes watering. Pixi found that confusing. Sir units don't cry, they can't. How was he doing it and why? Even for a defect he was highly emotional. Pixi felt he was a very…special...robot.
"Then do as Zim says and there will be taquitos aplenty."
Gaz stepped out of the bathroom all dressed, her hands clutching her hair and rubber band in her mouth. "Did somebody say taquitos? I'm starving."
Zim sighed, lolling his head back. Eating meant food and food was downstairs where Aunt Cazzma was and where Aunt Cazzma was there was pain from being overly pinched and squeezed. The Gallkin was a real pain in the Pak. "…Zim cannot have his mate go hungry…we'll have to go just like she asked…urgh."
"You'll live," Gaz said, letting her hand travel across the top of his head right upon his antenna as she passed by him. A wave of delight went through him from that. Suddenly he felt much more open to the idea of going with her if it meant more touching and kissing. Reluctantly he got up and bid the others to follow him. They went down the stairs to the tavern, Zim helping himself to checking out Gaz's curves and behind in her black shorts and fishnets. Her combat boots had a chunky heel making her just a bit taller but that made her all the more alluring and accentuated her lovely long legs.
He bit his lip as he was thinking about what she had been all but straight up asking him to do to her and last night she admitted that if she was not so tired, she wanted to do it then. Even Zim was not a complete moron to not notice the woman was sending clear signals she was "in heat". Ready to be smeeted. Primed for breeding. He wanted so much to do what she asked with her eyes, her touch, her words, and right now with her hips. Though that last one wasn't on purpose, that was just Zim's pervy mind. For someone who was pretty much in the dark about reproducing he had such dirty thoughts.
"Hey Zim, stop staring at my ass."
Zim turned dark green and he looked away bashfully, having been caught. How did she even know that? He then shook away his shyness, it was not becoming of him. "…Zim can look at whatever he pleases and my Irk what a sight!"
"Tsk. Pervert." Like she was any better and she didn't mind him checking her out, but it was getting irritating having his eyes on her backside the whole time. It was good to be appreciated for her looks and she knew he liked her for more than that anyways. She felt something holding each of her hands as they got to the bottom floor. On one hand was Zim, fingers in hers, and on the other was Gir who looked up at her and smiled with his tongue out. The tavern was standard, full of the drunk, the lonely, the weary traveler, the passerby but there was one person there that Zim noticed right away. In her blue wig and petal pushers was Aunt Cazzma, patting the backs of and greeting every customer. Her burgundy eyes rounded even more so when she saw Zim and right away she leapt over to him attaching her fingers to his cheeks. Thus, the pinching commenced.
"Oh, my cute little precious schmoofy woofy you did come down after all!"
"Please release Zim! My face- it burns!"
"And looook you brought your pretty female too," Aunt Cazzma cooed, turning her hands towards Gaz, as if to pinch her cheeks as well.
"Touch my cheeks and I'll break your hand. I don't care who you are."
"Oooh. Very nice, Zim very nice. A good strong-willed woman you have with a lot of bite."
Zim surveyed Gaz, a little after glowering just a bit at Aunt Cazzma for even have dared to want to touch her in such a way and did a toothy smirk at her. 'Oh, if only you knew how much bite she has,' he thought, scanning Gaz's lips which were pursed. Under those kissable lips were a pair of teeth he desired to be on him, marking him everywhere as her property. Everyone needed to know it and now. His thoughts were stopped by Aunt Cazzma pushing him to the side to make a strange happy noise at seeing Krit and thus began pinching his cheeks too. The Irken child had no idea what he was supposed to do but ask her to stop while suffering her abuse to his face. Then she moved onto Gir who gave her a taste of her own medicine and did the same action to her, causing her to drop him.
"Not so nice when it's done to you now is it?" Zim remarked with a harrumph.
"Tut tut, Zim. Now why don't we all make nice and let me introduce you to everyone?"
"No thank you. Zim is just here to feed his mate."
Aunt Cazzma gasped then slapped Zim's arm hard making him yowl. "Why didn't you say something sooner? I can't believe you'd let the girl go hungry for this long. Shame on you! Come Gaz, before you faint on the tavern floor."
Zim shook his fist at Aunt Cazzma as she dragged Gaz off. How dare she try and place shame upon him? He was an Irken, damnit! Such things were not heard of. He scowled as he walked behind her and muttering heatedly about how accursed a person she was. Krit followed behind, rubbing his face. He too did not have a fancy for this Aunt Cazzma person. As soon as he could Zim swiped Gaz back, folding her tightly against him with one arm, locked in a show of possessiveness and protectiveness. The woman had some cheek, assuming he would ever let her, his almighty beloved life mate, starve at all. He only braved the threat of Aunt Cazzma's doting for the sake of getting nutrients into his Gaz. Gaz clutched to his shirt. She was thankful he had taken her away from that woman before she ended up burning her arm off of her for grabbing and pulling her own arm like that. She was pushing way too many boundaries and if not for her sheltering them Gaz would have just ended her.
"Okay okay I won't touch her. Goodness, men and their mates. Now then," She said as she turned to the fridge and cabinets, "What to get you?"
Zim was still holding Gaz to him and there she would stay. She didn't seem to want to move anyways, the further away from that lady the better. Zim didn't trust her to not go back on her word not to touch Gaz since Aunt Cazzma found her cute. That was so insulting! It was bad enough she was calling Zim that but Gaz too? He could not stand idly by and let his most beauteous fire demon get her name slandered so.
"Aunt Cazzma-"
"In a moment, fuzzy wumples, I'm looking for something humanly edible here. Now where did I put that jar of pickled eggs?"
Gaz turned green and though the shade did look good on her Zim knew it was because the thought of that disgusted her. "I don't know what you've heard but we don't eat that."
"Don't knock it till you try it. Ahh here we gooo I can make you a sandwich, that's safe enough."
"Aunt Cazzma listen to Ziiiiiim, Zim is tired of your foolish shenanigans!"
"I'm listening, foofie woofie boo boo, speak," She merrily chirped as she got out the ingredients she needed.
"That's just it. You keep demeaning Zim with your words and Gaz too. I'm sure Krit doesn't enjoy it either."
Krit had been sitting in a chair, drumming his talons along the table in semi-boredom with Pixi by his side keeping a firm grip on Gir's wrist though he tried to keep running to no avail. His antenna went up a bit at hearing his name. Zim was absolutely right about what he was saying, it was very demeaning for an Irken, even an outcast, to be treated as such but most certainly to one who had already been through so much just to get here. To insult Miss Gaz too even if she meant nothing by it was just wrong. Didn't this woman understand these two were fighting to save all Irken kind and also, by proxy, the Gallkins too?
"I just can't help it though. It's who I am and what I do. I see something cute and I just wanna cuddle, and kiss, and hug it and take care of it. I live to take care of others, to be, oh, everyone's auntie. I…had a family you know…and a lot of them are gone now because of Dib. It's not a good excuse I suppose but you do remind me of my departed nephew. Ah well…I should ease up a bit. You're both adults anyhow."
Now Zim felt bad for saying anything at all. Losing his own people, even people he had hated or disliked immensely, had been a devastating loss for him, seeing his Tallest taken down and thrown to the side had made him want to break. So much devastation and as Sox had said, so many innocents were taken. Zim shuddered with loss that made his squeedily spooch shrink in pain. So many good soldiers, so many strong invaders, and families were torn apart or obliterated as well. Irkens did not have a sort of bond with the Gallkins as they did with one another (a side effect of all being born in the same fluid most likely) but they were still part of them. Zim lowered his head and gave her the most apologetic look he could, antenna low on his head and curling inward. His heart wretched at the thought of someone who was like him in any way being killed.
"I'm deeply sorry for your loss, Zim did not know…What was his name? Zim will honor his memory."
Gaz held tighter to Zim's shirt, moved by his words. Zim never apologized for anything, he did everything with no regrets and though she knew he had suffered, in silence as she had done, he rarely expressed it out loud. Gaz could just tell and his hurt was hers. Dib had been merciless, unwitting or not, he had so much blood on his hands they were dyed red forever. She could feel Zim's pain at hearing first hand from someone who had to deal with what was happening here. His sympathy made her lips quiver just a small miniscule amount, but she stilled them, only to have the quiver go to her heart.
Sometimes, Zim could be more than just sweet to her, he could be sweet to other people, and though Gaz preferred him to have his usual Zimmy flair, his touching gesture made her love him deeper. Krit was in the same boat as she was but like Aunt Cazzma he had witnessed it with his own eyes. Not just that he was born into it. Awakening from pod birth as an owned slave, just a drone, having the invader title stripped from him before he could be one even though it was encoded in his veins.
Worst of all was the inhumane way Irkens were treated, if they died it seemed not to matter to him. Even Tak cared more. Krit just knew this was wrong…this was horribly horribly wrong. He felt for the lady, she had a true family, not just podling smeets and poof, gone forever. It was no wonder she let Zim in without question, she would do anything in her power to get back at Dib for what he had done and housing his enemies seemed a good start.
Even Pixi could have empathy for Cazzma. Pixi could, at some length, understand what it was like to lose something of a family. A master or mistress to a Sir unit is all the family they could compute having so Pixi, still hoping one day for a day where she could see her true master again, felt it. Gir somehow escaped Pixi's grasp and went to hug Aunt Cazzma's leg in an apparent attempt at cheering her up.
"That's thoughtful of you. I appreciate it. His name was Rift, and he even had your same cocky attitude. I think you might have liked him. He would have made a good invader even though he would not have been allowed to."
"We can change that rule, you know," Interrupted Gaz, "Whenever we overthrow Dib, we will change it so that Gallkins can have a chance too. What do you think Zim?"
"It can be done. If Zim is to have any offspring with his Gaz there will already be invaders who aren't all Irken anyhow, so why not?"
"You mean you haven't already gotten Gaz with smeet yet? Well what on Gall have you been doing all this time?" After she raised her question with high strung emotion, she handed Gaz the sandwich. She took it and without even questioning what was in it she took a large chomp. She was very very hungry. It tasted pretty good, better than any sandwich she had made for sure. Aunt Cazz also handed her a bag of chips with what looked like Irken lettering on it. Now those, those were delicious. They were intensely spicy with a sweet but tangy barbeque like flavor.
"Well excuuuuseee me for not immediately ravaging her!"
"Not that he hasn't wanted to," Gaz commented with a mouth full of chip and mystery meat sandwich. "We haven't had time."
"So not even mated and you call her your mate? Zim, tut tut. I have no problem with new aged thinking, but some people might talk."
"Let the peons waste their time with senseless bickering. It will be the last word they speak. As for the whole…you know…process of having…well you get it, that is really none of your concern really. Zim is awaiting uh…approval anyhow."
Gaz raised an eyebrow. Approval? What did he mean by that? Had she not literally straddled him and told him to just get it on with her in Dib's lab of all places? Wasn't that approval enough? Or was Zim just trying to cover his butt for not making a move already? Yeah, that was probably it alright. Well, she was right there wasn't much time for it. By the time they got more comfortable with each other and more open to the idea she had been captured and from then on it had been a high-speed zoom into space to escape. Last night she was beat and just couldn't find any energy.
Tonight though…if nothing else went awry…yes tonight and she guessed she had to initiate it because she had put a barrier in front of Zim all the time. He was always sort of uncertain because he didn't want to ruin this relationship that made him feel so Irk blessedly good. Gaz finished off her sandwich and dug into the chips, licking the dust off her fingers. She handed him one since she knew he adored snaxs to no end and they were Irken brand. He took it from her hand with his own and licked her finger tips. Oh yeah. It needed to be tonight. She was done waiting. No more teasing, no more laters, and no. more. interruptions. It also had to be perfect. She didn't expect her first time to be in a hotel but that's just how things went sometimes.
"Well I'll leave you two alooone. Clearly you have some much-needed work to be done."
They both glared at her as she made her way out of the kitchen. Neither of them liked anyone prying into what they did or did not do together privately. Zim took more chips and munched on them thoughtfully, still sort of glaring but into the distance. He was thinking about what he felt for Gaz, what he wanted for them, what he wanted to do, and how he had not done anything about it other than make comments. Yet again as if the interruptions in his life would not cease Gir interrupted his thinking.
"I found the tabasco!" Gir was holding up a red bottle of sauce with a pepper on it.
"Oh sweet, I didn't know they had that here!"
"Gaz you know what this is?"
"It's a sauce, a really spicy sauce. I like spicy things, but I know it's not your kick."
"M'eh…Zim can enjoy some spice. Zim was once dared to eat a flame beetle which is like a jalapeno but crunchy and squishy…and alive. It was quite tasty."
"Gross you ate a bug."
"Master looooves to eat cinnamon toooo."
"Gir is right...for once. It's one of the Earth spices Zim would like to harvest for his own. Oh, the churros we would have the churrosss I say."
"Yay churros!"
Krit was just absentmindedly staring at them. What else was he supposed to do really? He didn't feel useless or anything as he always sat in the back and just listened. From this he learned. He learned about empathy, he learned about heart ache, he learned about humor, about how to have fun, about how to command, about human nature and alien ways. So even if he was just sitting around, he was always learning something, plus he did enjoy being around them as anything could happen especially when Gir opened his mouth. Pixi could say it was the same for her though Gir's antics she could do without and his affection for her she didn't want or need. He was a vexing droid who never ceased in his physical showings of love from sleeping next to her to licking her face to poking her.
She put up with him because he was far worse when she didn't let him get what he wanted. So much like a spoiled child he was though nothing like the spoiled madame who kept her. He was naïve, childish, very loud, messy, and made no sense. However, she didn't despise him, but she guessed she liked him a little bit though she liked Krit a lot more than she liked Gir as far as tolerance. He was quiet at least and liked her card tricks she had learned from being a gambling pawn for the madame. Often the lady would have her weigh odds and use probability to win at every casino but through it Pixi had learned a thing or two. So, like the boy Irken beside her, even something bad was worthy as a learning experience.
"Enough talking about churros you'll make me crave them."
"Don't worry, my Gaz, when we rule you shall have fields of churro plants."
"They don't grow out of the ground you silly silly man."
"Zim is not silly! He is ultra-serious all the time!"
"Master is full of poopoo," Gir exclaimed, drinking the hot sauce as he did so only to scream loudly and run around with fire coming out of his mouth. After the burning stopped, he did it all over again.
"He's right you know."
"You dare side with him, the measly robot minion and not meee, your lord and ruler and…and lover of course. Let's not forget that." He coughed with a smile before returning. "But still you will bow down before the might of Ziiiiim."
She kissed his lips quickly and he stopped immediately, his arms dropping to his sides and a love-sick look on his face, eye lids lowered halfway and a droopy smirk.
"Urg…hmpf…. you and your kissing stopped me from monologuing."
"Just like a comic book villain Zim. Sometimes you are cliché. Now then, I think I'm in the mood for more chips and I think I can order a whole crate of them and have them shipped to the hotel. They are almost as good as pizza…. almost but not quite," Gaz was saying this mostly to herself as she walked out of the kitchen, mind occupied about thoughts of pizza flavored chips being invented.
"Wait! Take Gir and Pixi with you upstairs for a while. I'm going to be busy training Krit."
Gaz turned her head back and looked from Krit to Zim then back to him. She gave him a thumbs up. "Good luck to you."
He shot her one back as he learned fingers have their own expressionary uses on earth. Holding up one pointer finger meant to wait or the number one. Two mean two obviously though he figured out it meant peace soon enough. The middle finger was a rude gesture. The thumbs up was a means of approval. He did ever so much like approval by Gaz. She looked back to Zim and waved at him as she left. "Go get him, tiger."
Zim could not stop the soft growl that crawled up his throat at being referred to like that. Likening him to a predator, even one of her world, was one of the best compliments he could receive other than one about his invading skills or appearance. There was no time to give his passions too much thought though he tucked away an idea for later. He turned to his young companion, dawning a more superior, drill sergeant like attitude. He cracked his knuckles and titled his head.
"Well Krit let's get started, shall we? We'll use the storage room for our training. Remember, I won't go easy on you just because you are not fully developed. Zim will push you harder than you've been pushed. You might get hurt."
"I understand fully, sir!" Krit answered, standing at full length with a salute and eyes focused on Zim's eyes trying to show both fear and compliance as well as determination and reverence. Zim liked this, he liked having someone admire him…well other than Gaz did at times but this was different. After living so long trying to make everyone falter to his might it was nice to have earned it. "I won't hold back anything!"
"Good. Let's go then, my trainee."
Krit nodded and followed behind Zim where they made their way to the storage room which was towards the back of the hotel/tavern and housed a lot of labeled boxes, replacement light bulbs, towels and all that. There was enough room for the two to have combat training more hands on with weapons that would not potentially destroy the place so no big cannons. Statis rifles, small laser guns, beam blasters. Irken child toys really. They took two different sides of the room and faced each other. Zim stood there as if waiting for something.
"Well show me what you can do. Zim wishes to see what he has to work with."
"Oh…right. Okay here I go."
Krit hadn't had too much in the way of fighting skill training but he used what he knew. Throwing punches, kicks, doing typical boxing like moves, and using speed to give some time for him to get away and try something else. He took out his elongated knife and went after Zim with it. He used everything he knew, everything he saw, and put in 110 percent. Zim could tell. He could feel it in every breath that barely touched his face, saw it in the strain of his muscles, the way his antenna twitched, the sweat dotting his brow, the way dust kicked around his feet as he whizzed to and fro.
Zim easily dodged everything though his ability to go fast did put Zim on guard. He was by far one of the fastest Irkens he had ever seen. He put up his hand making Krit halt, but his knife was still gripped tightly in his hand. His legs didn't stop in time and he closed his eyes tightly. He had been heading for Zim's face and it worried him he might have stabbed his own mentor in the face. However, Zim caught the blade between his fingertips, the sharp end very close between his eyes. He took it, flipped it in a showy way then threw it like a boomerang back to Krit who caught it with one of his Pak hands.
"You aren't half bad. The best skill you have is your speed so use that to your advantage but as you just saw in certain times you do need to slow down or you make a crucial error. The problem Zim sees with you is that even though you have drive and fight in you, you have no sense of what you are doing. It's all slashes wildly. For a moment Zim thought you might even kill him."
"Oh Tallest, I would never be able to live with myself if that happened. I don't know of any other way to be in a fight…just going blindly along."
"Well lucky for you, Krit, you have the wonderful Zim here to give you a few pointers. Killing is easy enough and someone without mercy is a great ally to have. The hard part is not just how you do it but with what weapons. Each one has a different effect use them wisely and for the right purpose. Stealth and deceit- those are two basic things of being an Irken. One last thing…you do this thing with your legs…you bow them. Don't do that you'll lock them up and then be frozen on the spot. Not the position to be in when there's a battle."
Krit looked down at his legs, moved them up and down strangely, and took a stance. "You're right I do bow them. I never noticed! I hope it's not something wrong with me."
Zim waved away the issue. "It happens but if it's not fixed now it will be permanent. Okay then. I've seen what needs to be seen. I'm going to teach you some skills I have and try to train your legs."
"I'm ready sir!"
Zim liked his enthusiasm. He liked him. As he fought with Krit something bubbled inside of him, like pride almost. When he did something right Zim made sure to throw in some sort of positive feedback, not too much though. He was battered, bruised, maybe had a few sprains and charley horses and scrapes but it felt great. Krit wiped the blood from his mouth, got back up and kept going at it even if his veins were screaming, even if his bones were aching, even if he wanted to drop already, even when Zim seemed to be much too ruthless. He knew he wasn't doing it to be cruel, he WANTED Krit to succeed. As they finished up, he helped him up and dusted him off, very careful with his antenna, actually he patted his head.
He knew what this feeling was or at least he assumed to know. It was like those beaming fathers at sport games watching their sons, calling out their names as they did just about anything, and celebrating when they won. Zim fought this strange urge to hug the young Irken but pat his back and told him he did a good job. Seeing Gir as a son was difficult for Zim, if not entirely impossible, but seeing Krit as one… well he was already his species for one and Krit looked up to him. That sensation and the understanding hit Zim. He wanted a son, to take under his wing, to train like this, watch him grow up and invade his very first planet. Krit was the closest thing to it right now. Of course, he could always do as Aunt Cazzma kept slyly suggesting and get on with making one.
As Zim and Krit walked upstairs back to the room he thought deeply about it. They kept going in circles about it. She wanted him, he wanted her. She said it was okay and he was willing…more than willing. Tonight. It had to be tonight. He had been patient, he had been kind, he had respected her wishes, and she gave him permission. Tonight, he'd block all calls, he'd take no interrupting this time. He loved her and he wanted to show her that, make her feel it. It was way past time for it anyways.
He stopped outside of the door to their room hearing loud music on the other side but not the kind he was familiar with Gaz listening to. His face portrayed slight confusion as he opened the door and his jaw dropped at what he saw. Gir was dancing, that was normal, Pixi was attempting to dance looking more like Zim when Gir asked him to dance which wasn't normal but not too weird. MiniMoose was flitting about in mock dance style, but what really caught his attention was Gaz. She was dancing and not forced at all, she was enjoying herself, even smiling and mouthing the words as her hips shook. They were all jamming out to 'Livin la Vida Loca'. His eyes traced every line of her body as it moved. He had never seen her dance, not like this. Bob her head, sure, and clumsily ballroom dance with him, yes. This was different.
Her hands pumped in the air and her hips swinging in ways he assumed no one could attempt without a hula hoop. Her hair was out and flying about her. He just took it all in. He knew very few Earth words to describe a woman that was attractive in the way she was. Sexy is all he had in his mind and honestly, he thought he had made that up all on his own. After all of his ogling he really should have interrupted but he couldn't. He just wanted to watch forever at his own private dance show even though someone else was looking and it was Krit. It was curious to him and looked like what they called fun but other than that he thought not much else of it. He was wondering why Zim hadn't just gone in. Had his Pak shut down? He tapped his shoulder causing Zim to jump and shriek.
"Don't sneak up on Zim like that! I know I told you to be sneaky but not with Zim!" He was clutching his heart as if he had the biggest fright of his life.
Krit was so confused and he looked it too. "Wha…...but…"
"Just come in already you guys. You can join our random dance party," Gaz exclaimed, still grooving.
Gir had started this mess and after one little dance she got into it pretty quick. When she heard Zim's footsteps, he had such a heavy sounding walk as if he stomped about everywhere just so everyone would hear him, she put it into over drive. Zim entered the room almost wanting to cover Krit's eyes like Gaz was not clothed or something. Her saucy little moves were NOT for virgin eyes. Or anyone's eyes but Zim's really. No one deserved to look. Krit didn't even see Gaz as anything like that so he refrained…for now.
"Come on masta bust a move," Gir spoke, obviously in his element. He took Pixi by the hand and twirled her making her disoriented.
"I'm going to bust open your head if you say that again!"
"Aw come on. Everyone's daaaancciinn."
"Yeah Zim, don't be lame. If I'm doing it then you have to."
"Nu uh," Zim protested, sitting on the edge of the bed and pouting.
"Fine then be that way. Krit, are you gunna join in?"
"Uuuhhh…" He looked over at Zim who made a hand motion allowing him to go on. Not that he had control over what he did but if he was going to look at him for a good to go, he would give one. "Sure…but I don't know how…"
"Just listen to the music and let it move you."
"Move your body like a rabid monkey," Gir said while dancing flamenco style with Pixi who looked like she was uncomfortable with the proximity.
Krit stood up and closed his eyes listening in to the next song, more Gaz's style, a metal dubstep combo. One antenna went up trying to focus on the frequency of the music. The vibrations went down his body and he let that control his movements. Before he knew it, he was dancing in whatever way felt right.
"There you go. See, Krit is way cooler than you Zim," Gaz teased hoping to get a rise out of him. His antenna pointed angrily backwards on his head and he snarled, growling at her. Jealousy surged through his system but no matter what he would not comply and make a fool of himself. Krit was oblivious to the situation, having lost himself in the music. Zim sat there like a sour puss the whole time until Gaz lowered the volume and said she was getting tired of it and that everyone should go back to their rooms for a nap anyways. (She meant Gir, but she could see the battle wounds on Krit and thought he might need a rest). Gir was dragged dejectively out of the room with the other robos in tow.
Gaz smirked in a sly way at Zim, who was still glaring having his pride wounded and feeling resentful. He looked like one of those kinds of people you see in photos who clearly did not want to be in said photo. She slowly turned up the next song, having perfectly timed everything just for this. This song always reminded her of Zim, and she thought he could appreciate that…plus it would loosen him up for what was to come that night. As the song started, she breathed. She was kind of nervous. It was different dancing with friends than dancing all alone in a bedroom with your boyfriend sitting on the bed. She began moving with it and as each lyric hit him and each shift of her hips he came unfurled from his anger.
This song, it felt like it was recorded by her just for him even though Gaz's singing was not this professional or pop star like. Still the words…was this commissioned by Gaz? She danced in rhythm with the beat and Katy Perry's vocals. His brow rose and his eyes widened at the implications in the chorus. Her eyes met with his as she tried her best to be seductive, but it wasn't her style really. It felt awkward and the strangest thing ever. Zim didn't notice nor care, his hands unfolded, and he had a much calmer, albeit aroused, appearance.
She had to turn from him as he was doing that thing he did with the smirking and the eyes. Good thing the song was winding down and as it ended, she turned off the music player. She turned back around now a little better suited to look at him looking at her that way. All his aggravation was gone and his jealous streak. He patted his lap and Gaz's face felt hot. She had sat in his lap just this morning why did this feel so…dirty? She didn't move for a bit. Her legs felt like another entity now with him giving her that look. His eyes narrowed a bit more, more aggressive than before but that leer never left.
"Sit down," He sharply commanded making Gaz snap out of it. She didn't take orders normally, but she did it anyways, finally getting her damned legs to work. She positioned herself upon him. Without any bump there that normal human men would have his lap was always comfortable but even without something in his pants telling her he really liked her dancing she could tell. He stroked her bottom lip with the tip of his talon. "You've been a bad girl, calling Zim names. So cruel. Zim will have to punish you."
"Hm. How about I kiss you and we call it even? I didn't mean it anyways."
"Say what you mean then…tell Zim what he truly is to you and I'll consider this offer."
"You…you're…look I'm not too good with the whole sappy sentimental stuff…but you are… everything for me."
"Everything? Or the only thing?"
"Oh gosh just shut up and make out with me already!"
He did just that, pulling her close to him and kissing her deeply. She was irresistible and that dance had just about made him want to throw all caution to the wind and take her on the fuzzy pink carpet. No. That was not how he wanted it, not their first time. It had to be special and he wanted to make it special, wanted to burn the memory into their heads for all eternity. He broke apart from her lips which was always so difficult for him. If humans didn't need to breathe, he'd kiss her forever, but they did and besides she had other places on her for his lips to touch. And teeth. And tongue. And hands.
"Zim, I have something pretty big planned tonight so free your schedule."
"There's nothing I have there that is more important than you. However, Zim also has big plans. There's somewhere I want to take you."
She frowned. 'No no', her mind thought bitterly, 'he can't take me somewhere. This ruins everything but…sigh…he looks so hopeful.' "Where is it?"
"Glad you asked. You mentioned wanting to swim and my brilliant mind thought to take you to those caves you wanted to see. You'll like it... aaaand…we'll be entirely alone…away from the crowds and the others…," He answered suggestively, rubbing up and down her leg, inching close to her inner thigh to give it a squeeze. Gaz matched his smirk. She now could tell this wasn't going to be a quick visit to a strange and wonderful location. He wanted to take her, both literally and figuratively. Her heart stammered with excitement knowing what he had planned for her, for them. Tonight, would be the night. It just had to be.