Corrupted Memory

By: 99Alien-Freak99 & Xmimi89eR

Rate: T

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

(ZaDr!FLUFF)

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-

As light as the Irken might be, Dib couldn't just let him sit in his lap for too long, his legs became slightly numb from the now sleeping alien. Dib of course decided that the easiest thing to do is move the small Irken away, just enough for him to be able to shift around.

It's quite sad to see the alien who seemed cold be removed from his lap, he already promised to be close since the other kept saying that those 'shadow monsters' will get him if he was alone. But he needs his space too, and it's not like he's going anywhere, he just went to the bathroom then back on the couch. And it's not like he has anything better to do. Sure, summer vacation with no more paperwork or professors to yell at him. But God, it was boring! Well, that sounded a bit selfish. He'd have said that last year- he did say that. But now he has a living alien sleeping right next to him in a pose that looks like a cat-

Speaking of which. The alien did sleep like a cat, Dib noted. Curled up tight with his two hands close to his face as of protection. His antenna would twitch like cat ears every now and then. Now that Dib had thought of it, IZ did act all like it. He even hisses like a cat! Well, that's interesting.

Dib's eyes looked at the guard-less Irken who seems to trust him to his death. The boy would have been flattered if it wasn't quite upsetting. IZ did let his guard down too easily to him, almost trusting him and maybe even sees somewhat of a hero in him, dare he say it. It's quite obvious, for him at less. It's either he's too scared that he found comfort in Dib, or that the boy is good at comforting. Whatever it was, it's still a bit amusing, and it slightly made Dib feel somewhat special.

The sound of the door opening and closing catches his attention and he looks behind the couch to see his sister taking her shoes off. "Hi." He waves a hand at her, more automatically since he's used to it.

"'Sup." Gaz replies coldly as she walks closer. Dib could see the new makeup she's wearing, mixed colors of black, purple, and even some blues here and there. It wasn't new so he didn't comment on it. Gaz sits with a huff on the other side of the couch, she plugged the controller and turned her PS5 on. She was about to hit start when something almost kicks at her thigh. Gaz wanted to ignore it but it was just the odd presence of something that catches her sight and she looks down next to her. Gaz raises an eyebrow slowly, looking from the alien to her brother, who seemed a bit tired.

"Wow, you were always allergic to cats, guess God's gift to you," She waves her hands in the air dramatically, showing her black-colored nails. "God gave you a hairless-green-alien cat. Surprise." A smirk on her pinkish lips.

Dib rolls his eyes and sighs, not in the mood for a sarcastic response. However, he can't stay quiet for too long. "He's 17 you know." He said, glancing at his sister.

Gaz was waiting for her game to load patiently, amber eyes shot to her brother in somewhat of surprise, but it quickly fades. "You sure it's 17 not 7?" She mocks.

"That's in his 'Irken' years or something, he's around 100 in Earth's years." He replies in somewhat wonder.

Gaz raises an eyebrow. "Huh," she looks back at the game. "At less your friend won't be a child." The music begins on the screen with flashing colors.

Dib doesn't reply immediately, he watches the two characters fight on the screen, the click and clacking noise fills the air as his sister pushes the buttons of the controller too harshly.

"I dunno what to do for him." He started after a long pause. "To help him with those... shadow things."

"...The same I did for you." She replied after a minute. "Try to be there in most times."

"It's not like he's giving me the chance to be away..." Dib mumbles under his breath, taking a glance at the alien who thankfully was still sleeping. "I don't mind him clinging into me, it's just-... he's an alien, you know. His psychology might be different than us."

"As I see, everything you've done so far is working, so it shouldn't be that different." Gaz shrugs.

"Well, he said that height matters to his race."

"And it kinda does here too."

"No not like that." He takes his time to find words, eyes watching from the game to the Irken. "They see height as everything, choose their leaders by height, even choose their fate by height. He also said that his race are as tall as me, so he's considered short."

"And you're considered crazy here. Is it true?" It wasn't a question, but she answers it anyway. "A bit crazy, but it's not completely true."

"Gee, thanks." Dib sighs.

"Try to prove that height doesn't matter like how you don't care about anyone thinking you're crazy." Her fingers push fast on the buttons as she kills more and more zombies in the game, the sound was a bit too loud. If she wasn't winning then sure she won't give such advice. "And don't bother me." Well, guess that's the end of her 'nice-sister' time.

Dib doesn't reply, he lay back on the couch and takes the said alien in his lap again. He hopes the Irken won't take too long.

-XXX-

SNAP!-

The memories of him screaming agony on the floor, his black-gloved hands began to shake uncontrollably, ruby eyes flickering to black as tears threatened to fall.

There was laughter.

People laughing everywhere. Their voices were too loud, too mixed together in a sick wave of vibrations. The PAK began to flicker lights and electricity, too painful it made him kick his legs and hands in a poor, useless attempt in getting away.

"How amusing." Purple said in a low tone.

The small Irken's eyes dared back to look at his beloved leaders. Their eyes met and he immediately saw pure hatred he had never seen before, it scared him to his core. "M- my tallest! What did you d- do??" He asks in a more pleading tone, lips shaking.

"How does it appear to you?" Red asks back, leaning a bit. "Are you blind or just... way too broken?" His tone was dripping sarcasm with mockery, smiling down at him. "No invader has ever been so... small."

"Yeah, you're very tiny!" Purple seems to enjoy this, way too much.

"B- b- but-" He tries to crawl away in shame, eyes looking from the laughing crowd then to the leaders. "I'm sorry! For whatever I did-" he didn't mean for his voice to be loud, everything was too annoying that he couldn't hold it. "What can I do to you to forgive me?"

"Nothing." Red's smile melted at the edge as he scowl at the said small Irken. "Everything you do is wrong!"

The two leaders seemed to walk closer.

"You're a walking doom." Red continued, eyes narrowed dangerously. "We've been giving you chances over and over again! But you always ruin them."

"You killed the two previous tallest!" Purple exclaimed in a loud voice so everyone would hear. And as he wanted, the crowd gasped. "You tried killing us!" He pointed an accusing claw towards him. "I'm not sure why the control brains even let you live-"

"He destroyed them!" Red cut him off.

"I didn't kill the tallest-" the Irken on the floor tried saying his claim but was cut short.

"Stop everything you do! If we're not allowed to kill you then-" Purple threatened but stopped for a moment to look at the crowd. A slow smirk danced on his lips. "WHO WANTS HIM GONE?" He asked aloud.

There was silence after their laughter as the Irkens stared at their leaders for far too long.

Red was about to interrupt when the whole crowd started cheering up loudly, almost happily. Tallest Red couldn't help the amusement that was painted on his face. "Wonderful, see? Everyone hates you." He looked back at the Irken. "All the universe hates you."

"Just finish this already, I'm getting hungry." Purple whined dramatically, leaning away.

"First, we get him label as defective."

"There's no need to, just get him in-"

"No, purple, injured Irkens are usually helped by other planets, you know, 'so they won't be killed'." He mocked. "If he's labeled as a defect then no one will even dare help him." He glanced at 'IZ' who was on the verge of losing consciousness, eyes watering with every word they say.

When the words left Red's lips, he thought that was it, they're gonna kill him. His sight was failing him, and it scared him how he can't even remember how to talk. His PAK was shutting down for medical care but he won't obey, he needs to run.

He needs to run-

But Irk, he can't feel his legs.

Ruby eyes looked at Red who was motioning with his hands in a shape of 'X'. "- just reco-- and then it-- no one will even-- we'll be free." His voice was too blurred to his antennae. Their faces began to melt as he crawled away, hand weakly trying to protect him as the other dragged him on the floor with the help of his legs.

Mouth uselessly moving in a silent plead, the wires just seemed to be endlessly long, wrapping around his hand as he tried to escape, knowing full well he won't. All the other Irkens seemed to turn black with colorful eyes and melted smiles. There was a fade noise of his PAK alerts in his head. Red's weapon was back at his PAK and replaced with another one, pointed at the said Irken.

They kept getting closer, and closer. He was too slow to get away, too weak to fight, too loyal to even look them in the eye.

Closer-

-XXX-

Gaz was laying upside down on the couch with the controller still in hand, she've been fighting the zombies for too long she grew bored and decided that playing against her brother was better.

"You're losing." She mocked, eyes never leaving the screen.

Dib glanced at her. He was leaning a bit forward with the Irken still in his lap, his arms around him and hands holding the other controller. "Oh, you won't." He sneaked a leg and shoved her playfully, which only seemed to make the game harder.

"Stop cheating you ugly moron!"

"As if!" He could see a smirk on his sister's face, even though he knew he won't beat her, it was still funny to challenge the said best gamer. There was some movement coming from the Irken, he was like this in the last ten minutes. Dib wasn't sure if he should wake him up or if Irkens needed more sleep.

"Prepare to clean the dishes." Gaz exclaimed with excitement as she bit her lips. That was a bet on them, if one wins then the other cleans the dishes, both siblings know who will win anyway.

"I always clean them anyway." Dib replied in somewhat a softer tone. His eyes would glance at the alien then back at the screen, he was a bit worried. Every time he remembers that said alien in his lap was having those illusions made him think that: maybe he dreams of them too. And if he was sure of something, then he'd say that those dreams won't be pleasant; nightmares that is. But the human wasn't sure if he should wake him up or not, was it even healthy for them to sleep this long? IZ was sleeping -or rather unconscious- since yesterday, he only woke up hours ago and now he's back again to sleep. Maybe it was the exhaustion or wounds that made him this tired, or maybe the lack of food.

Whatever it was it's still stuck in his mind and Dib couldn't shake the thought of his, dare he say, alien friend being chased down. He already experienced those types of nightmares and believe him, it wasn't a fun time...

Another shift in his lap.

Dib's bloodline was getting lower as his character was being beaten down, pale clumsy fingers pressed the buttons in an attempt to fight back-

The Irken snapped suddenly and accidentally punched his head against the human's jaw, he yelped in pain and held his now bruised head as he leaned a bit forward, forgotten where he was or why he was here.

Dib hissed in pain as the controller fell from his grasp, he shifted a hand to touch his jaw, feeling it getting swollen slightly. Years of falling off buildings and escaping werewolves taught him what real bruises are, so this was nothing compared to his paranormal trips. Amber eyes flickered to the alien beside him who was still recovering from the pain.

IZ whispered words to himself as memories of his dream flashed in, it was way too sudden that he was stuck in shock. Ruby eyes closed shut and his back rocked back and forth in an attempt in calming down. His leaders won't do such a thing, right? He didn't remember much, but if there was something that he was sure of, it was how loyal he was to them. At less that's what he remembers. He couldn't have killed the previous leaders, right? Why would he kill any of his people anyway? That's bad, killing his tallest is bad. And he wasn't bad.

Right...?

The Irken was in guilt and shame. What if he did hurt them? Killed them?... did he actually deserve the punishment? Bad Irkens are supposed to be punished, that's what he remembers. And besides, bad Irkens are considered defective... yet again, the monsters did say he was one... maybe he did kill the previous tallest, maybe even on purpose.

A hand made him snap back and he spans around at the warm touch at his shoulder, his eyes flickered to look at the human's amber ones. He at the last second held his hands back so he won't scratch the human out of reflex.

The human...

Isn't the Dib supposed to be an illusion...? He can't be dreaming again, he can't be having this repeating cycle: being alone, having the Dib-thing, being comforted, feeling slightly happy, then back again at being alone. This was all a dream! It had to be. He wasn't lucky enough to have someone caring for him, and he knew his mind only created this fake 'friend' to keep him going.

"IZ?" Came the said 'fake' human. "Are you... are you okay?"

He looked at him deeply. Dib felt those eyes staring right at his soul and that made him a bit nervous, that look was mixed with fear and disbelief. IZ searched for a moment before his face twisted in pure fear. The Irken pushed himself against the couch, arms wrapped around his chest protectively, his breathing began to quicken. IZ shook his head, not as an answer, but in shame. He blamed himself for what happened to said previous leaders, if it was his fault then he deserves to bleed to death. Hopelessness crept at his back as he kept pressing himself harder against the fabric of the couch. His claws held tightly at his hoodie.

Hoodie?

If he was wearing a hoodie then the human should be real... right?

Dib was a bit hesitated but drew his hand closer anyway, he was determined to get the other to calm down. His pale hand touched the Irken's shoulder again and stayed there. "Hey," He started, staring into fearful eyes that somehow turned into confusion as they looked at him. Dib could even see his own reflection on them. "Calm down, nothing here is going to hurt you." He said in almost a whisper.

IZ looked at him in denial, this can't be happening, this can't be real. He must be imagining it all! Yes this should be it-

He froze in place as the human took his hands in his, finally meeting his eyes. "I'm not sure what happened to you before all this, but it's okay to be afraid. I mean, we can find a solution, we can beat those monsters and nightmares you have, just trust me." He could feel the alien's hands shake in his but didn't pull back.

Dib smiled warmly at him when he saw the alien calm a bit. "I used to wake up in the middle of the night because of my nightmares, they literally keep me awake even though I had school at the time." He tried not to shiver at the reminder, but kept going. "I can't say it wasn't hard to get rid of them but I did, I beat them up." His smile widened slightly. "Gaz was with me at the time, and I guess it's your turn now." Dib could hear his sister growl from next to him, he ignored her as he continued. "And I promised I'll be here, no?"

The small alien swallowed. The touch was warm, soft, and so real. It can't be an illusion, and even if it was, he just couldn't help his body that was begging to lean to the safety of his 'savior'. Though he resisted it just to listen more to the human whispers.

"I won't go back on my promise, we humans usually don't." Dib got closer. "It might be hard, but you're strong enough to face it, I'll be by your side."

IZ blinked, pressing his lips into a thin line then smiled. It was a bit forced, Dib could tell, but still, it was a smile warmly enough. The alien leaned and hugged the human tightly as if he'd disappear at any moment. His face nuzzling against the human's bandaged cheek. He opened his mouth then closed it again, trying to find words. "What if all of this wasn't real?" He finally asked.

Dib shifted around to look face to face and rose an eyebrow. "Wasn't real?" He echoed the question.

The alien nodded. "All of it. You."

Dib thought for a moment, he needs an answer that would make the Irken feel safe. "Well, I assure you all of this is real," He started. "But if it was an illusion then it's better to stay on the good side of it, try to make the best of it." His thoughts were hard to say, he wasn't a therapist after all. "Illusions could be bad if you want them to be bad, you're the one in control after all in them. Force all the bad things away and focus on the good ones."

The alien blinked once, twice. He listened carefully and was glad to find that the human understands, he didn't turn him in. IZ nodded slowly, he shifted around in the other's lap.

"Besides from that, what do you want us to do?" Dib asked, changing the subject.

The other shrugged, not having any idea in his mind in the meantime. Before Dib could continue, he heard his sister speak. "Go get me my soda Dib, I've asked you this before. Oh, and you lost."

Dib looked at her. Right, she did Snapchat call him to get her some cola, she seems like she can't live without it. "But what about him, you know I can't let anyone see him."

"No one cares Dib, they're all blind, I thought you already knew that." She said in a harsh tone as if she knew exactly how humans are; which she does. "Just tell them it's a Halloween disguise."

This might work since the Irken was small enough to be considered a child, and besides, he knew that he'll have to go sooner or later or he'll have to face his sister's anger. Dib sighed. "Fine."

IZ rose his antenna in confusion, the siblings' conversation was more like a puzzle for him. He looked from the purple-haired girl then to the human boy.

"I guess you'll actually come with me to the grocery store," Dib said, meeting the Irken's gaze. "But you'll have to be careful when we go there."

"Why?" He asked.

"You see, humans don't believe in aliens." Dib started, holding the urge to roll his eyes. "So if they saw you then they'll try to catch you."

"...why?"

"Because-" Dib stopped. If he said more about how cruel humans are then the small alien would probably won't come with him, and Dib truly didn't want to deal with his sister if he couldn't go because of a terrified alien. "We won't take long." He stood up, motioning with his hands towards the Irken.

IZ jumped off the couch and held the human's hand, it was way too warm that he held it tightly.

"I'll go get my coat." He walked to the door to get his hanging trench coat.

"Oh, and don't forget to get more cereal!" He heard Gaz scream from behind the couch.

"Sure." He turned around to face the alien, when their eyes met, he sat on toes and held the edge of the hoodie. "Keep it on your head." He said, adjusting the hoodie so it'll hide the Irken's antennae and half of his face. "And if someone asked about you, just say it's a Halloween disguise, okay?"

The alien nodded.

"Alright." He checked for his keys before opening the front door. It was night at less, no one will be around much and they won't have a clear view of the alien's green skin or his eyes. They left the house to met the cold air outside. IZ shivered and buried his face in the human's clothes.

The boy pressed his car keys and the car doors unlocked. Dib felt the other slow a bit.

"What's that?" He asked, his ruby eyes glowing in the dark like some sort of a monster.

"A car." Dib answered. "We travel with it." He opened the passenger door. "The shop is kinda far so we'll go with the car."

"Like my Voot?"

"A what?" Dib paused in confusion.

"My ship." IZ answered as a matter of fact, looking from the human to the said car.

"A Voot, huh." He saved the name in his head. Dib waited for a moment, seeing the alien not making any move to get in the car. The boy sighed, he should remember he's dealing with an alien, someone who knows nothing of anything 'human'.

Dib shifted around and held the Irken from his waist, catching him by surprise which made the other hold for his life at the human's neck, his hoodie fell exposing thin, tall antennae. Dib stood there in disbelief, his hands let go and hung at his side. "IZ." He called. "Let go."

"No." The alien shook his head, voice muffled against his neck. His grip was too strong for Dib to pray off.

"I can't drive with you in my lap, you know." Dib spoke in a matter of factly.

"It's dark, the monsters will get me." He replied in a pleading tone. Just the image of him being away from the human, even only a foot away, will make the monsters catch him. And Irk, he didn't want that to happen, he'll stick with the good of this illusion, just like the Dib said.

Dib sighed again, he felt like talking to a child. But he didn't say anything back, he didn't know what exactly happened to the alien before all of this, but if he himself once got traumatized because of Halloween, then he won't be surprised if the alien was traumatized too. Besides, Dib had his sister at the time, he had her every day from day one he started having Halloween nightmares. But the alien was all alone in space. This thought made him realize something: either the alien didn't want to get in because the dark reminds him of space, or that his car reminds him of the 'Voot'. The ship that he was stuck in with no one but nightmares.

Dib rose his hands and shifted the alien in his arms then closed the door with his foot. He walked to the driver's side, the alien was small so it shouldn't be hard to drive with him in his lap, right? It should be. That unless the Irken didn't try to twist the steering wheel accidentally- Dib didn't want to think about it.

"Just keep your foot away from the brakes." He warned as he sat a bit heavily on his seat with the alien still clinging to his neck. Now that they both were inside that Dib realized the still pink blood on the passenger side. Those memories of shock and burning smell, bruises, and endless sugary blood weren't the best so Dib turned off the car lights so the alien won't notice. At less the sugar smell was gone. -he'll need to wash his car later-

The boy turned the car and adjusted his review-mirror. He felt the Irken shift again in his hold.

The said alien removed his face from the human's neck and looked back, his antenna twitching at every sound Dib's car engine made. When he felt the car move he sat cross-legged, antennae high in curiosity.

Dib tried focusing on the road instead of the feelers that kept smacking his face.

"Why don't you put it on autopilot?" Came the question from the alien who now was staring at him with curiosity, one antenna higher than the other.

"Huh?" Dib glanced at him for a second, then back at the street. "Autopilot?" He laughed. "We don't exactly have that, not in cars anyway."

A pause. "... Does it fly?"

"No, planes do."

"That's pathetic." IZ said with a twist in his features.

"Isn't it." Dib shook his head, a sad smile on his face. The alien's right, humans can be pathetic sometimes, he just hoped no one was in the store at this hour.

Silence filled the air. IZ was glancing at the streets, the trees and houses that they passed by, the smell of fresh air was odd to the alien's senses. "Does every human have a... car like this?" He asked, seeing that no one was around, just them driving.

"No, not everyone is able to buy a car, and not everyone has the same type of car." Dib replied, he could see the store coming into view, he needs to find a free parking spot.

"Oh." Said alien kept looking around, still having questions but before he could say more, Dib spoke.

"We're here."

Antennae rose high at the mention, he stared at the store, it was small but way too shiny at some point. "There'll be other humans too?" He asked, worries could be seen as his antennae lowered.

"Yeah, but it's okay, they're way too blind to notice." He shrugged, taking his car keys out and opening the door. His coat moving slightly with the wind as he got out. Dib lowered himself and the alien to the ground, his hands moved to catch the hoodie edge and got it back in place, hiding half of the alien's face. "Keep it like this."

With that being said, he felt the alien hold his arm as his hands were inside the pocket, his hold was strong, Dib prayed that they'll get out of this without anyone noticing.

END OF CHAPTER EIGHT!

AF: A cliffhanger! Sorry! I had to since this will be too long if I continued, but we'll try to write the next chapter as fast as possible!

Also, happy birthday Mary, it was on 24 October but this chapter wasn't done yet, so that's that.

Mary: This chapter was cute I can't lie. Oh and thanks for the fanart! I can finally die in peace. Reviews are appreciated! Have a cake :)

This was Alien Freak, signing off.