Dib is right, we've never had a good relationship.
Zim kicks an abandoned soda can across the hallway, spilling the contents across the floor and mixing it with the dust. Zim sighs, clawing at his pink and worn-out dress, feeling nothing but confusion.
The human and I don't have anything in common, and I'm feeling this... sympathy for him. It's pathetic! And making it hard to breathe in this hallway! He furrowed his eyebrows a bit.
I mustn't worry about him. Zim's back straightens and he begins to march normally. A sudden thought strikes him in the head, and he begins to overthink.
But those bruises… He fidgets with his hands. They're not like the ones I've ever seen before.
Zim recalls his first years of school—Dib would always have bruises, whether from him doing dumb stunts or from people who picked on him, but his face was always untouched. In fact, Zim used to make fun of Dib's wounds. After being picked on or injured from his ghost hunting, Zim would cackle as Dib brushed himself off from dirt, but he couldn't bring himself to laugh at Dib this time. He hissed recalling his fear when seeing dib cry. He felt sheepish.
He never cries! I have never witnessed him stoop so low!
Which was true. Although sometimes beaten up, he never shed a tear—at least from what Zim has seen anyways. Zim's cheeks flushed pink. He had never cared for the human, but he was worried. This wasn't what he was used to seeing every day for 5 years.
A sudden bump jerks Zim to the right, making him lose his balance. He turns around and prepares to yell at whoever caused the impact. He scans the hallway, looking for a possible answer to who hit him, but he was surrounded by hundreds of students, and eventually sees the gargantuan wooden sign above the crowded entrance. The word "Kafeteria" was written in sloppy black paint.
He stood at the cafeteria doorway, hearing floods of students wailing, screaming, yelling— the usual. He looked down at his boots, he didn't know what to do, let alone think. The cafeteria was packed with students and his head was in pure agony, yet he couldn't stop thinking about the boy. Something was wrong, but Zim was completely unsure of what.
He looked for a place to sit in the enormous cafeteria as his legs began to wobble.
Zim eyed each table as he walked past them, dodging morons who never looked where they were going, and getting smacked in the face dozens of times from students who flung their arms all over the place in a hyperactive rush. Finally, after the unintentional abuse and food particles being spat at him (by everyone talking with their mouths open), he found a perfect table. It was the very last one at the back of the cafeteria, and it looked like it was on its deathbed. Greasy, covered in what appears to be hopefully food, and maybe some mold under it; It was obvious why no one dared sit there— not even the social rejects.
Zim walked to the run-down table and sat on it, finally giving his legs a rest.
He rests his head on his hand, pondering. The alien knew he shouldn't care, but an ill feeling in his chest was saying otherwise. He was concerned and attentive.
Deep into his thoughts, he didn't notice a redhead coming up next to him.
"You okay, Zim?" A familiar voice called to the green boy.
Zim turned his head, mildly irritated by who could be talking to him at such time, but to his surprise, a ginger-haired boy was now sliding beside him, planting his lunch tray onto the sticky table surface.
Zim gagged a little, feeling uncomfortably queasy by the sight.
"Hello Keef," Zim said, trying not to gag again, "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I saw you were sad, so I came to make you feel better!" Keef cheered.
"Erm- that's very...nice of you, Keef," Zim uttered, giving a synthetic smile. "Thank you for that, but I have a question for you." He leans forwards, inches away from the ginger's face, "Do you happen to know what's going on with my arch-nemesis?"
Keef stares blankly, looking puzzled and almost afraid to ask what he meant.
Zim exhales slowly, "I mean Dib, Keef."
"Oh!" he jumps, finally understanding, "what's wrong with him?"
"What do you mean- did you not see his whole ordeal today in class?"
"I didn't notice," Keef shrugs.
"You didn't notice?!" Zim raises his voice in frustration, "My god! You people are so oblivious! Dib was sobbing all over his test!"
Keef looks up, thinking. "Is that why you called his name in the middle of class?" He finally asked, looking confused.
Zim's face goes pink, "Is that the only thing you recall!?"
"Well," Keef adds, "maybe it could be people picking on him."
The alien gets closer to the boy than before, "Who?"
"I'm not sure," he backs up a bit, looking uncomfortable, "It's just that Dib has always been picked on since I've known him, so I figured it could be that…"
Zim puts his hand on his chin, "That's true, he was always picked on, but I find it strange that it would have an impact on him now."
"You are right about that…" Keef nods, "But that was in elementary, so I dunno."
Zim sighs sadly, he was getting nowhere with this conversation, they were both clueless.
Flashbacks to Dib's scene made him shiver. He needed to look for him again. "Thanks again, Keef," He says, getting up from the table. "You're welcome, buddy!" The ginger smiled at him. Zim awkwardly returns the favor, and quickly turns around, beginning his search.
He frantically searched the hallways— the English, science, math, history, and fine arts halls— even the gyms, which almost caused him a concussion from a flying dodgeball. He disrupted class periods by jabbing his head inside. He looked inside the detention rooms and the bathrooms— except the girls' ones of course. The only place left to look was the bathroom the farthest from lunch, at the entrance of the school. Zim's stomach felt weak for the millionth time.
What if Dib isn't in there? I've searched everywhere in this filthy school!
Zim approached the last bathroom shakily; the hall was empty, and the only noise present was his boots hitting the ground. He placed his hand on the metal bathroom door— it was cold. His heartbeat became increasingly louder and faster.
Zim peeked his head inside, hoping to hear any single noise to indicate someone was in the bathroom. "Hello?" He called out nervously. The bathroom lights flickered intensely, which made him feel a bit lightheaded. Abruptly, a sniff was heard from the last bathroom stall, the biggest one— and the darkest.
"Dib...?"
"Occupied."
"It's me, Zim," he whispered.
"I said it was occupied."
"Can I talk to y-?"
"No Zim, I just want to be alone," Dib cut him off.
Zim's antennae lowered, making his wig shift a little. He raises his hands to fix his wig and enters the bathroom finally, the door slamming loudly behind him.
Zim goes silent for a bit, not knowing what to say until he hears the stall door unlock.
CLICK.
Dib peaks out, his face and eyes are red and puffy. "What is it?"
"I need you to talk to me," Zim responds.
Dib narrows his eyes slightly, "Talk to you? About what?"
"Just how you feel...I guess" he shrugs.
Dib's expression turns blank, "Really, Zim? I would never fall for that, you know."
"I'm not doing anything," He replies, "It's just you and me."
The boy cautiously comes out of the stall, looking around nervously.
"I told you it's just us," The alien reassures, "Plus, I don't have friends anyway, so,"
Dib looks back at the alien, and a chuckle slips out.
After realizing Zim is alone, the boy starts to question him.
"What do you want anyway," Dib asks, still skeptical.
"You seemed...to be in dire need of assistance, to say the least."
"I can assure you I'm fine," dib scratches his shoulder, "How did you find me though?"
"I looked for you," Zim mumbled, "I wanted to see if you were okay."
"Well," the boy shrugs, "I look fine right?"
Zim gives a monotone face, "Eh? Have you seen yourself?"
"I'd rather n-"
"Here give yourself a look!" Zim exclaims, grabbing Dib by the shoulders and dragging him to the sink mirrors next to them.
Dib examines his face closely in the mirror, picking at his flaws.
"No no, Dib," Zim grabs his face to look forward into the mirror again, "See that?"
He points to Dib's eyes, who flinched a bit. "Why are they red?"
"Because I was crying, Zim."
"So, you aren't okay," Zim snaps his fingers, "I'm right as always!"
He gives the alien a blank expression, "Yeah, fine, Zim. I was, now what."
"So," Zim marches forward a bit before turning around in a brisk, "Tell me what's wrong, you moron!"
Dib sighs, "I just wish things could go back to how they were,"
"What do you mean?" Zim asks, puzzled.
"Just," Dib lifts his arms in the air, "To be happier!" he sighs once more, "I wish I could be happier like back then."
"And…" Zim steps closer, "Why aren't you happy anymore?"
"When you came here, I went hysterical, and it got even worse." Dib looked down at his feet.
"What's gotten worse?"
"My life," he sniffs, "Everyone hates me, even my family."
"You never cared what the others thought," Zim spoke, a little impatient, "So why now?"
"Because…"
"Because what, Dib!" Zim responds, slightly louder.
"You wouldn't understand it," Dib shot back, "You never understand anything."
Zim halts. "I know how it feels to not be liked, you know!"
"Yeah right…" Dib scoffs as he starts sitting down on the disgusting floor. "You weren't liked in elementary- but you weren't hated like me, you had people talk to you because they thought you were funny, But me? " Dib laughs sadly, "Never," He sinks more to the floor.
Zim walks up to Dib and sits down too.
"Do you remember the tallest?"
Dib looks up, thinking, then responds, "Yeah, what about them?"
Zim fidgets with his hands, he never told anyone what happened 5 years ago- it was semi-old, but the wound still felt like it was just yesterday. He turns his head to not face the boy.
"I wasn't supposed to be here, it was all a trick."
Dib's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Zim looks down, eyebrows saddening. "The tallest never liked me, they sent me here to get rid of me."
Dib stares at the alien in pity. "Then why are you still here?"
"I abandoned the armada after I found out," Zim declared, "There was no use in going back."
"I didn't know... I'm sorry," Dib replied. "Don't be, It was not your fault— but what I'm trying to say is," He looks at Dib in the eyes, "I know how it feels."
The boy smiles weakly as his eyes overflow with tears again and goes in for a hug.
Zim obliviously gets up, brushing himself off, "Let's go back now,"
The boy's face becomes flushed, "Yes, that would be a good idea, I think." He shuffles. Zim heads toward the stall, hoping to help him pick up the boy's things; and spots a messy black composition book in the middle of the stall, half-open. Walking towards the notebook, he scans it: the name "Dib Membrane" was scribbled in a thin messy Sharpie, following a miniature frowning face beside it. Dib peaks his head back into the stall, peculiar of what Zim was doing.
"Ah no- don't touch that" He steps in, almost tripping.
Zim raises an eyebrow, "What's in it?" He asks, trying to open it.
Dib gasps in panic and sprints towards Zim, raising his arms and getting a grasp of the journal.
"What's in it!" Zim yells slightly loud.
"It's none of your business!" the boy yells back.
Great pulling strength from both boys seemed like a game of tug-a-war.
"I want to help you!" Zim shouts. "I don't need your help!" Dib wailed.
Startled, Zim lets go, causing Dib to fall to the bathroom floor— directly on his back.
BAM.
His sleeves elevate, showing more deep bruises on his forearm and wrists, including what appears to be small cuts. Zim gasps, "What happened to your arms?!"
Dib's eyes widened, "Um, I-" The boy gets on his knees, gathering his things,
"Nothing Zim, I fell yesterday too."
Zim's eyebrows furrowed, "That's such a lie!"
"Well, that's the truth!" Dib sniffled as he picked up his journal off the floor and shoved it into his mess of a backpack. He gets up and sprints to the icy-cold metal door.
'Wait!-" The alien tries standing up quickly. "Thanks, Zim," Dib cuts off without turning around, his voice raspy, "But I don't need your help."
He walks out the bathroom door slowly, not daring to look back at Zim.
SLAM.
And with that, Zim is left standing alone, outside the bathroom stall.
The school bell rings.
RIIIIIING
He looks down onto the floor, spotting a sheet of paper.
"October 20th, 2001."
Zim's eyes gleamed. That's today.
Oh man, I'm so sorry i took forever for this chapter to come one!!! I've been super busy with classes and well, it's my first time actually writing an AU/fanfic!!!But I'll try my best to work on future chapters faster :)Anyways!!!! I would like to thank my boyfriend, who is also my co-editor, for helping me with everything. -Paranormilia 9/29/21