Corrupted Memory

By: 99Alien-Freak99 & Xmimi89eR

Rate: T

Story will contain: blood/ violence/ anorexic/ depression/ strong language.

(ZaDr!)

Disclaimer: We do not own invader Zim, but we own the story and idea.

English is our second language, my apologies if there are any mistakes.

Our stories do not contain lemon.

-XXX-

No matter how quiet the ship is, the small alien had made it alive with his heartbeat, just the feeling that something was alive in there, something besides the dead machines.

The irken was laying on the floor for the past days, unmoving. His heart was beating painfully slow, body stone cold. He wasn't fighting anymore, no more nightmares invaded his mind; all he saw was darkness. It was swallowing him alive, taking every breath he had left.

As much as no sound was around him, it was still a feeling that he is still alive, even with his still body and pale skin. His wounds were still there, though he couldn't feel them, he couldn't feel anything; rather just cold and heavy.

His PAK was trying to keep up with the lack of power, it clicked and clacked, hummed and overheated, all the while repairing itself. Just a small moment without it focusing may cause the hopeless alien's life.

Heart seemed to be the second to give up after the brain, it felt too painful to keep up, so useless and worthless. With a final inhale of breath, his heart gave up too.

The ship was still quiet, no one will ever know the difference an less they get inside. The irken layed now lifeless on the cold floor, his presence was still there, anyone could feel uneasy just standing near. Being in the same room with a dead body.

But what 'someone' is there? Space is full of dead bodies, all floating endlessly or have been eaten by a bigger alien, nonetheless, they are still dead.

And what is worse than a body giving up on its PAK?

-XXX-

"Ugh finally!" Dib huffed as he got home from his last day at college, he knew he did good on the exam and was excited to finally have time for himself and his paranormal trips.

Speaking of the paranormal...

"His ship should be close... days if not hours close," he walked to sit beside his sister on the couch, talking to himself.

Gaz just played her game.

"He stopped responding, and I need to know how much time is left before he comes here..." the boy murmured under his breath.

"Stop worrying too much, it's annoying." Gaz said coldly, pressing the game's buttons.

"I can't, he could be hours away and I'll never know,"

"Use your stupid device, you idiot."

Dib's face lightened up, he totally forgot about this! "You're right!" He got up and ran to his room, sitting immediately in the computer chair as he turned on the device. It lightened up and started searching; there was nothing yet.

The boy sighed and leaned back in his seat, staring at the ceiling. Eventually deciding to sleep.

-XXX-

"REACTIVATING."

A volt shock ran down the lifeless body of the irken to recharge his heart, his limps began to shake as the electricity made his heart beats again. It stayed that way for a moment before it let go of the alien.

He gasped for air, feeling his organs on fire as he sat up immediately, his heart start to pound as his eyes looked around. Antennae twitching with the sound of alarms around him, the red lights flashed against the metallic walls.

Ruby eyes dared to look outside just in time to see a blue planet getting closer, his ship was repeating 'PLANET AHEAD.' As the lights flickered blindly.

His eyes widened with fear rather than happiness, he began to have another seizure as his finger tapped on the keyboard, he turned off the autopilot and took the handle in both hands, and started to pull back as strong as his dying body can.

The ship hit the atmosphere creating a fireball of his ship as he tried his hardest to slow the damn thing. He could see the ship's sides break, threatening him with death.

It fell faster towards the ground, the irken couldn't hold longer and hid his face against the console as the ship made contact with the uneven ground, causing his forehead to hit the console. The Voot was covered in dirt while it drowned in the swamp. The alien didn't know if he should open the windshield to escape the mushy liquid while threatening to let it in or wait for his ship to drown with him inside.

His ship though didn't give him a choice when the windshield opened by itself making the small irken flinch, "No!" He backed away from the liquid as it sneaked slowly inside. His eyes looked at the sky that was slowly being blocked with the dirt, he needs to get out and now before his ship drown completely!

He started climbing on his pilot seat to try and avoid the weird liquid then grabbed hold of the windshield edge, his PAK legs tried to help but it was useless since he had no energy. Shaky gloved hands were trying their best not to slip on the smelly dark pool. He gritted his teeth as his feet kicked the air, searching for something to hold on into.

A strong wave of dizziness made his eyes go black, his hold weakened making him tremble and fall in the muddy pool.

-XXX-

Dib's eyes widened, he jumped in place when he heard his device beep like crazy from his room, not wasting any time, he started to climb down to his window.

In the corner of his eye, he saw something fall fast to what he assumed was the park, "Holy shit!" He couldn't help but curse. Landing on his bed he ran and sat on the computer chair, seeing his laptop and device flashing red.

'OBJECT DETECTED'

Dib grabbed his phone and downloaded the location as fast as he could then got his trench coat while running down the stairs, he slipped his arms in his coat and grabbed the car keys out.

Slamming the door behind him, he sat on the car seat and turn on his black car, without seconds thoughts he found himself halfway through the streets. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel while his eyes focused on the way.

It was after midnight so not a lot of cars were outside which made him speed more.

His phone began to ring. He opened seeing it was Gaz Snapchat calling him.

"Yeah so since you're out I wanted some cola." Came Gaz's bored voice.

"Gaz!" Dib breathed out, "The Irken's here!"

"The what-?"

"The alien! I just saw his ship literally hitting the ground!" He twisted the steering wheel to the left making the car side tires rise from the ground before it hit it again.

"He won't disappear so slow down." The girl said as she heard the tires. "Meh do whatever you want just don't die or lose a limp. I don't feel like explaining to Dad why you're missing an arm."

Dib rolled his eyes. "Yes yes, see you."

"Bleh."

Click.

He grabbed his phone tightly when the park came into view. Already seeing smoke in the sky.

He parked the car in the park's gate and got out, he closed his car and started running. His phone flashing light turned on. Red boots splashed on the grass, he'd hear a crushing sound of the leaves he stepped on alongside with his heavy breathing. The closer he got the stronger the smell got; it was an odd smell, something like burning wires and electricity.

The boy slowed down to catch his breath but didn't stop walking, the smell was strong now making him follow it more than his sight. He placed a hand on every tree he passed while looking around, some noises were coming from inside the park, behind trees and above them; properly birds and animals.

His flashlight seemed to have a reflection that made Dib lower his phone. His eyes widened when he saw a half-drowned ship. It was round looking, purple and pink, and smoke was coming from it. The human saw the windshield open, he focused his eyes and got closer but couldn't see anything inside. His phone was tossed in his pocket as he walked closer, getting a better view of the ship, he couldn't help but wonder if the alien is anywhere inside because if that's so then he's already drowning.

Before Dib could do anything, he saw from the corner of his eye something move behind the ship, with hesitation, his feet dragged him closer. There were sounds of someone crying, coughing, and shaky breaths. It fill the air making him shiver.

Right on the pool edge was someone, they held their torso tightly as they cried and moaned with agony, their voice was shallow as they took deep breaths that ended up with coughing harshly.

When Dib got in a good distance, he can clearly see that this wasn't just someone. It was the alien. Dib's heart ached and his stomach made a flip of the crying, he stood there, not knowing what to do.

Eventually, the Irken fell on his face still holding to his stomach, his legs began to shake even more. Dib now could see smoke coming from the alien's lower body and his hands. The metallic thing on his back was flushed red with an audible humming.

Dib started walking again slowly towards the alien in pain, the closer he got the more scars, bruises, and blood he saw and the more louder the crying was. The Irken sopped and whimpered, his eyes closed shut and his antennae pressed against his head, he took deep breaths seeming unable to fill his lungs.

After a moment of unbearable hiccups, the Irken seemed to sense something as his antennae twitched, he rose his head slowly, magenta eyes unfocused, he looked around for the source of this... thing... the alien didn't know but he still felt it there. Even though Dib was standing right in front of him, the other didn't seem to see him, he only looked around with shaky sniffs; after what felt like forever, his ruby eyes seemed to finally settle on the human. He blinked multiple times as he tried to focus his eyes on the boy's face, when he managed to understand that someone was near him, he snapped.

With a loud gasp, the Irken stood on his burning feet and tried to run away, he almost fell on his face multiple times as his feet made an unhealthy turn making him yelp in pain. His fear of whatever that thing was standing next to him made the green alien ignore the pain and try to run again.

Dib stood there dumbfounded, "Hey..." he whispered to himself before snapping out of his shock, "Wait!" The boy started running behind the horrified Irken. It didn't take him too much running as he saw the Irken tremble on his thin legs and fall face first at the grass with a cry of fear and pain. He span around to be on his back and tried to back away, his big eyes were locked with Dib's, tears falling down his bloodied face. "It's o- okay..." Dib breathed out, already tired. His words didn't seem to do anything to the shaking alien.

"He'tseh!..." The alien gasped, "He'tseh, sey de ni..."

Before Dib could respond, the Irken's eyes rolled on the back of his head and he fell to his side, his crying stopped but the heavy breathing was still there. Dib looked at the unconscious alien on the ground, unsure of what to do. His eyes wandered around to look at the ship, it was already halfway in the mud, though it seemed to be stuck that way, he was sure no one will ever notice because of course, no one wanted to notice.

Sighing, Dib leaned down next to the injured alien, studying his face. He shifted a hand to touch the Irken's smooth yet bloodied cheek, it sends a shiver down his spine at how cold the alien was. When he got no response, Dib leaned over to slid his arms around the small green body, moving him carefully and slowly above the ground, trying to hold him with gentle hands and at the same time tightly, the alien didn't even flinch.

Dib hissed at how overheated the metallic thing on the alien's back was and tried to keep his arms away from it. He shifted the light Irken in his arms, feeling his stomach tightened at the sight of dried tears and purple bruises. Frowning his eyebrows sadly, he started walking back towards his parked car, hands trying to hold gently at the alien. He would glance down at him every two seconds, looks at his face, then at his burning legs.

As he walked away from the ship, the air was replaced with the smell of burning flesh which made Dib start running to his car. It didn't take long since the boy knew the park, he got to his car and opened the passenger door then placed the bleeding Irken on the seat carefully, making sure he won't fall before closing the door and running to his seat. The car made a humming sound alongside the alien's pack noise while Dib twisted the steering wheel and made the car jump forward and into the street.

Dib made sure to keep the windows open so he'd focus on the road instead of the burning smell. His eyes traveling to the Irken every now and then just to regret it and look back at the street again. His hair lock moved left to right with the wind as sweat ran down his forehead. There was another smell other than burns that started to fill the car, when he took time to focus his nose on it, his face frowned in confusion when he smelled something sugary sweet; thinking it's just his imagination, Dib made it to his house.

Parking the car, he got out immediately and closed his door, and walked to the passenger side. He opened it and held the still unconscious alien in his arms, closing the door with his foot, the boy walked to the wooden door, he shifted a hand from under the small alien and knocked.

After a few seconds, he heard someone sigh in annoyance before the door opened showing his half pissed sister. "The door was open." She snapped, glaring at her brother. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw what he was holding in his arms, she leaned forward to take a better look at the pale alien. She seemed confused but shrugged it off and looked back at her panting sibling. "Problems seem to like you." She teased.

"Let me in Gaz!" Dib whined, slightly moving his arms forward to show his sister again that he did have something important in his arms, "He's bleeding!"

"Whatever." The girl huffed as she walked back to the couch, taking her game in hand. Dib wasted no time as he got in and closed the door, he walked to the couch as well and placed the alien on it. "He smells like candy." Gaz seemed to notice as well, she snored.

"I thought I was imagining it..." Dib murmured. "What should I do now?" He asked no one in particular, finally having a good look at the Irken. From the pink blood to the purple bruises. The half ribbed pink uniform-like dress to the antennae. The big red X on his forehead and the three-clawed hands. The boy couldn't help but study him with his eyes, almost lost in thought.

He saw the Irken's face twitch in pain as a whimper escaped his dry lips. "I'll go get the medical kit, watch over him." He said to Gaz as he stood up already running upstairs to the bathroom. Gaz only rolled her eyes and continued to play her game. Dib came down in a second with the kit and some towels in his hands, he huffed tiredly and sat on the ground. He opened the kit to get cottons and bandages, the boy had zero information on how to treat an alien but he couldn't leave him bleeding that way.

He grabbed a towel and started to try and dry the blood and mud away, the Irken's lower stomach to his feet was socked in mud and slight water, the cloths were now stuck at his flinch especially his black leggings. After drying as much sticky blood away he lowered the towel and went to try and get the alien's out of his upper clothes only to stop with a thought. "Hey Gaz?" He started.

"What?"

"I need to get his dress off..."

"So?"

"It's a dress! What if he was a girl?" His cheeks flushed slightly when an embarrassing thought crossed his head.

Gaz glanced at him then at the Irken, she noted that yes, 'he' was wearing a pink dress with a slim body, her eyes traveled down; no male could wear such leggings and not look... well, like a male down there. She couldn't help but snicker. "How would you know how aliens anatomy works anyway?"

"I don't want to feel guilty later!" He huffed.

"It's not my problem, brother." With that, the girl turned around, no longer facing Dib.

"Hey!" The boy whined, he sighed and looked back at the alien, he was still in pain. His legs didn't seem any better. Dib tried ignoring the previous thought and started to get the gloves off of the green alien, he slowly slid them out to see his three-clawed hand. If his hands weren't burning with bruises, Dib would have been impressed. He got the other one off, hissing at how some skin came with the glove, he tossed them away and started to take the alien's boots off. It was much harder since his skin there seemed much worse and deeply bruised.

His legs smelled like burning skin and Dib couldn't help but scowl, he then frowned at how painful it looked, some pink blood started to come from the gashes and cuts on the burning skin. Dib didn't know what exactly was burning him, whether it's the mud or water. When his boots were tossed aside as well, Dib leaned to take his dress off only to be stopped by the metallic thing on the Irken's back, Dib didn't know what that was but it sounded and looked important and he truly didn't want to fuck around with something he had no idea of.

He stared down, thinking how he should get the dirty clothes off. His eyes traveled to the kit and pulled a small scissor out, he held it tightly in his fingers and took the hem of the green alien's dress. The boy was surprised at how strong the fabric was, it was slightly painful to cut it. He started cutting on the middle, being as gentle as he could around the Irken's burned stomach. It got slightly harder to cut when he got the neck collar, seeing it was much thicker.

Probably to protect their thin necks...

He hesitated as he lifted the clothes off the alien, glancing with half-opened eyes at what he might find in there, not wanting to feel embarrassed later. To his luck, Dib found nothing. He sighed and examined the bare chest more carefully, noting that the alien didn't have any human features in there, only smooth skin that was horribly scratched. Dib's eyes widened when saw the scars and bruises there. It was claw scratches, they went all the way over his torso, mostly around his stomach. Dib's eyes traveled to the Irken's neck only to frown deeply when he saw more scars in there, though those scars were still bleeding and much deeper than the others.

The boy shook his head to get the panic away as he got a towel from the ground, he started to dry the wounds and mud on his chest, he noted that some wounds needed stitches as they seemed unable to stop bleeding. After that he put the towel on the alien's thighs as he started to cut his leggings off, being more careful since that area seemed sticky and sore. He successfully removed the leggings away while making sure the towel stayed in place to hide whatever is in there.

Using another towel, he began to dry the socked legs from water, blood, and mud, still careful as he saw some skin being pulled out with the white towel turning it to slight green; it send a shiver down Dib's spine. He saw the alien frown though didn't wake up. After awkwardly trying to dry his small thighs, the boy sighed and got the bandages out. He decided to start with the legs so the alien would wear something as soon as possible.

Speaking of the clothes.

Dib's eyes looked at the ruined pail of pink tunic-like dress then to his leggings; there was no way the green alien could wear those again. "Gaz?"

"Ugh, what? You've been peacefully quiet, can't you stay that way?" The girl snapped, her game was heating up and she still hadn't killed the boss yet.

"Do you have something he can wear?" He asked, knowing his clothes won't fit.

Gaz glanced at the alien, she studied him for a second before looking back at her game. "His waist is as thick as my thigh." She mocked, even though it wasn't completely true; she just likes teasing her paranoid brother. "I'm sure even my 5-year-old dresses won't fit him."

"There has to be something, he can't stay naked and the stores are closed by now." He pleaded with his sister. His hands moved to bandage his feet first, not knowing what medicine may help and what won't. The white bandages rolled over the Irken's toes, Dib tightened them on the swollen skin to keep it together.

"If you ordered pizza I will."

"Are you really this lazy not to order it yourself?"

Gaz shot him a glare, "I'm trying to make a deal with you, either accept it or get lost." She snapped, she was angry because that damn boss in her game was taking too much time to be beaten up.

Dib sighed. "Fine..." he huffed and continued his work. He finished the first leg up to the alien's knee, Dib decided to leave it free so he'll be able to walk. When he got to the other leg, it twitched and the Irken whimpered in pain, he tried to move around with his eyes closed shut, but thankfully still asleep. The boy tried his best to treat his wounds much slower.

"Yes!" Gaz cheered herself when she killed the boss and finally could let her game-slave rest. She stood up and stared at the Irken for a moment, examining how small he is before she headed to her room, looking for something that may fit him. She opened her closet and got a bag out, it had her old clothes that she usually used as spare fabric. She opened it and searched inside of it, all her clothes were mostly black dresses or gaming shorts. After a while of looking, she finally got out two pairs of clothes, not bothering with underwear because the alien didn't seem to wear any.

Gaz got a short yellow overalls with a black stripe on the side and a matching black hoodie that had thin yellow stripes all over it. The other pair was a pink sweater that had a high, tight collar with black leggings. Nodding to herself, she returned the bag inside the closet and walked out of the room with the clothes in her arms.

She sat on the couch and threw the clothes on the floor next to her brother. "Here. Now call for pizza, I'm starving." She said as she took the remote.

Dib examined the clothes for a bit before Gaz spoke again. "I think the overalls should be good since it will be supported by his shoulders."

"Thanks." Her brother replied with a satisfied smirk, "It's also short and not tight on the wounds." He murmured as he flipped the overalls and started putting it on the skinny legs of the alien, making sure not to touch his wounds and bruises. It was hard since he didn't want to look down there and he never put someone- an alien in this case, on their clothes before. After struggling for a moment he finally slipped all the overalls to the Irken's shoulders, glad that it was short enough in the back for the alien's pack thingy. Perfect.

"Come on Dib! The pizza!" Gaz whined as she glared at him.

"Okay, okay." The boy got his phone out quickly and ordered from the only opened restaurant at this hour, the phone rang for a moment making Dib sweat as his eyes stared at the blood and the yet not bandaged wounds before a tired voice answered.

"Welcome to bloaty's pizza hog, how may I help you?" The girl on the other line sighed tiredly.

"Uh, hi-" he greeted, trying to make it quick. His sister really had the worst times of being hungry.

"Oh. It's you." She cut him off, already fed up with the siblings' orders in the middle of the night. "The usual?"

"Yeah." Dib tried not to snap at the moody girl, he closed his phone knowing they already know where their home is and tossed it on the table. Since they were customers their order will come faster than the rest; even though nobody will order at this time of night.

"Do you usually stay up this late?" He asked his sister, already feeling his eyes itch. Dib couldn't get his eyes off of the injured alien though.

"Duh."

Dib looked over at his phone to see it was 4:23 in the morning. Time flows by these days. He hummed and looked back at the alien, just seeing the other in pain made Dib snap out of his sleep and continued his bandaging, now having more free space since the Irken is not naked.

He finished his other leg that's when the doorbell went off, his sister immediately rushed to the door to see an overly tired teenager holding their pizza, Gaz passed him the money and closed the door on his face. She quickly walked back to the couch and got a slide out.

Dib wasn't so hungry so he decided to keep his hands in the task and moved to the alien's neck, he shivered when he saw the deep cuts in there, they were still bleeding the same pink sugary blood down on the couch, Dib was sure this was not from the fall so where the other cuts, they looked self-made. Self-harm if he was correct. He gazed at the Irken's claws, three claws, perfect for him to scratch and cut himself. Dib felt his heart twist at the thought, some memory rushed in his head of his Halloween visions.

He sighed and started to wipe the blood away with the towel before starting to bandage it up, he knew just bandaging it like this wouldn't do much but he knew nothing about the alien and didn't want to use something that may melt him just like the mud/water did. Maybe he'd ask the Irken when he's awake, that if he didn't panic again.

The white bandages were placed successfully on the alien's thin neck, Dib made sure not to make it too tight so he'd be able to breathe. The human looked over his body again, there were still some cuts there but he got the most important at less. He stared at the Irken's hand that was warped in some wires, he was confused since they came from the Irken's pack, his finger ran over the colorful wires before he tried to get the tangled arm out, this ceased the tiny alien to gasp and whimper, his eyes shot open and he gasped out of horror, already having a nightmare.

Dib froze in place and Gaz looked beside her at the scene, she rose an eyebrow when her eyes locked with the Irken's ruby ones; she won't say this aloud but the alien's eyes did look pretty at some point. The Irken snapped his head to where he felt the pain only to see another creature so close to him, his eyes were blurry so the only thing saw was a black and blue blob in front of him. Thinking it was one of the monsters, he couldn't help but snatch his hand and attack with his claws, aiming aimlessly at the dark blob before him.

Dib yelped in pain as he got scratched over the jaw, though this didn't stop him. "Calm down," he held his hands in the air as he saw the alien jump from the couch and to the floor on unstable legs. He didn't listen and only arched his back and hissed like an angry animal. This got Dib to flinch, he saw the unfocused gaze from the alien and tried to get another step forward. "It's fine."

"Are you sure he can understand?" Came Gaz's voice, she seemed slightly impressed by the show as she ate her pizza.

"I don't know..."

The alien's antennae pressed back at his head as he showed his sharp zipper-like teeth, hissing much louder while taking steps back, when he felt he may fall he decided to burst onto running, somehow feeling a little stronger but couldn't care to know why at the moment.

"Stop!" Dib tried to warn him as he saw the green boy run to the kitchen.

He ignored him and looked for any exit, his magenta eyes landed on the window above the sink, not thinking twice, he ran on still trembling legs and climbed the sink, his left hand accidentally splashed with water and the Irken cried in pain, he glanced at his hand that started to smoke and melt slightly.

"Someone will see you!" Dib said as stood behind the Irken, his eyes wide when he saw the new injury on the green hand. He's allergic to water then not mud...

The alien shivered in pain and ignored the weird words then decided to use his PAK legs, it took all his energy as one by one his sharp and long metallic legs came out. It moved him out of the window and into the backyard, his eyes glanced everywhere, he saw nothing familiar so he decided to climb up the building, thinking this might keep him away and safe.

"Shit!" Dib cursed, he hoped no one was outside as he ran out of the door to his backyard. His eyes caught the alien as he climbed up their roof, why? That was beyond him. Dib shook his head and went to his own window to climb up, he got to the roof to see the other retracting his sharp metallic legs. The alien looked around in panic, his eyes finally settled on Dib and he jumped back, arching his back and hissing at him.

"Kij'sy 'hed!..." he snapped, taking slow steps back.

The sun began to rise making a beautiful shade of orange and purple on the horizon, the stars began to disappear slowly. "Please," Dib began. "Someone might see you..." he tried with a low tone, unsure if the other can understand or not, but hopeful his tone might help.

"I already said I'll help..."

This made the alien stop for a moment, his eyes widened a bit and his pose changed.

"Y- you can understand, right?" He cracked a smile, nodding his head when he saw the antenna twitch. "I'm Dib, and I'm not going to hurt you..."

The Irken face lightened up slightly but then it twisted, he shook his head and his fear expressions returned as he took another step back, unaware of the edge.

"Stop." Dib said, he froze in place when he saw where the alien was going. "Don't move."

The other paid no attention to him, his bandaged feet kept getting backward, when the edge came by Dib couldn't stand there and watch, he launched himself forward which freaked the other making him tremble and fall.

Dib fell on his chest as he held the alien by his burned hand earning a pained scream from him. He moved his other hand and leaned it in front of the Irken. "Take my hand!" He said feeling his other hand slip.

Tears ran down the other's eyes, he stared at the ground then back at the human, his hand hurt and he really didn't want to fall but his inner self kept screaming not to trust anyone, and especially not to have hope.

"Come on!"

The alien searched the other's amber eyes, not sure if this was even real. What if it was a trap? This 'Dib' was supposed to be just an imaginary savior! How is he real...? Was he... real all this time?

Dib swallowed, his chest was pressed on the edge and even though the alien was light he still needed to hold with both hands, his other one began to sweat and slowly slip and the feeling of burning flesh didn't help. To make matters worse, his glasses were about to fall too.

The green alien shut his eyes and moved his other hand towards the human, he opened his eyes when his hand was held and felt his body being dragged from the edge. Dib let go of the other's hands only to hold him by the shoulders and get him close to his lap.

"You can understand." He said with a serious tone but still soft.

The alien flinched, he was too weak to free himself so he started to panic again that ended with him crying and whimpering, trying to move away. His body began to shake and it hurt just to try and stand again, he hanged his head, too heavy to keep up. His inner self just didn't seem to have any hope to even struggle free anymore, hope only lids to bad things.

Dib frowned, his stomach tightened with sympathy, he wanted to let go but feared the other might run again. "Hey, I said I won't hurt you..." he started. Dib never comforted someone, he had no one in the first place so this was slightly hard. "It's fine, how about we go back in and fix your hand?..."

The Irken looked at his hand, it itched and burned making him want to cry even harder. Without thinking twice he nodded slowly. Almost regretting it.

Dib's face brightened, he smiled and leaned to look at the alien's face. "Can you walk?"

The other flinched from the move. He looked at his feet to actually find them bandaged, he was surprised and almost- almost happy; but immediately shrugged his happiness away and hope, knowing these two only lids to bad things in the end. He was too tired to walk; his spooch was empty and he was hungry and thirsty, his throat hurt so much and his spooch just wanted to vomit. So he slowly shook his head, still not looking at the other.

"I can carry you down, if you want to...?" Dib offered with a smile. He feared the alien might cut his throat if he did so but had no other choice, the Irken was shaking and it broke Dib's heart just by seeing him like this.

Ruby eyes glanced at him with doubt, they searched for any bad sign, anything that might be... not trustworthy. But this was the one who was texting him, this Dib was the one that said he'll help. And he was real. The alien hesitated.

"What if..." the green Irken began, the language was weird and heavy on his dry tongue which made his voice raspy. "Wh- what if... you let g- go...?" He asked.

It took all Dib's hearing to understand, and also was shocked to hear him talk in English, he stared at him for a moment before realizing he was asked a question. "I would never. You can hold into me." He answered in a reassuring tone.

The alien opened his mouth to answer but stopped, he froze in place and started to move his head to the side, looking behind him. His face twisted with fear, hands into fists. What Dib couldn't see was the black monster that stared at the Irken. He smiled slowly showing sharp teeth, some saliva fell on the roof.

"Oh? Having fun?" It asked.

The Irken swallowed, not daring to move. He saw another one appear, then another. The place started to get blurry and dark despite the sun that just rose. He couldn't help but move back forgetting the human, his knees carried him closer to the boy as his eyes widened, the monsters only got closer.

"Stay away!..." he cried out, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. The Irken gasped when a monster touched him. His eyes rolled back into his head as they turned black, he fell on the human.

Dib held tighter to his shoulder when he saw the alien panic, he heard him plead something as he looked back. When Dib followed his gaze he saw nothing.

Are those... the shadow things he said before? He wondered. He's imagining them...?

His eyes looked back at the alien when he felt him go limp in his arms, his hands moved so he'd stare at his face only to find him already unconscious.

The raven-haired boy sighed heavily, he stood up with the alien in his arms in bridal style, hugging him close as he climbed down with one hand which was a little difficult.

He got in the living room to see his sister standing, already walking to her room, she turned around when she heard footsteps. "You should bandage that." She pointed at her cheek. Dib blinked but then realized his wound.

"Oh, right, I forgot..." he sighed and put the Irken on the couch.

"You know Dad might get home, you better take him to your room." She shrugged.

"That sounded wrong," Dib pouted, he saw the smug on his sister's face and glared at her. "What if he wakes up again and kills me in my sleep?"

The girl shrugged again, going upstairs.

Dib picked the alien up, he remembered the other wounds and decided he needs to treat them.

Guess I won't sleep tonight.

END OF CHAPTER FIVE!

AF: uh, sorry for the wait! I didn't realize how long I haven't updated this story! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, at less it's long right? Oh and I keep saying: "the Irken" or "alien", "Green boy" because Zim still doesn't remember his name; I'll start using his name when he remembers!

Mary: finally meeting up! And yes Zim will act like a cat :3

Have a nice day!

This was Alien Freak, signing off.