(We see the author of Weakness, Harmony, sitting on a nice plush couch. She is blowing a bubble-pipe. Dib sits next to her, eyeing her cautiously. She keeps scootching torwards him. He glups.)
Harmony: Hello, everyone! Im back from my vacation, feeling rested and resfreshed and all that...and I already have a new chapter of Weakness all ready to go! Im ready to really go into high gear with this one, I have alot of good ideas...and pretty soon, its gonna be time for this slash to live up to its genre.
Dib: (blushing) Harmony, come on. Please dont pair me with Zim! He's...green!
Harmony:You know you like it.
Dib: Its disgusting! Hes an ALIEN! He's my worst enemy!
Harmony: Hush up or Im turning this into a DAGR.
Dib: DAGR? Whats a DAGR?
Harmony: Dib and Gaz Romance.
Dib: *eep* Ill be good.
Harmony: Aww, youre cute when youre scared. (pats Dib on the head) Anyhoo, isnce this is a fanfic, and you all have been so loverly about posting nice reviews and whatnot...I figured Id leave this part up to you, the readers-How much do YOU want to see?
Dib: What do you mean...see?
Harmony: Well, my darling little paranormalist, this fic WILL have sexual content. Its already had a little, and there is more on the way. I will not cut any events out of the fic, the stuff thats there stays there. However, there are many, many ways to handle sexual scenes...I could write them anywhere from PG to R. (There will be no NC-17 content, Im not willing to go that far.) I want to know what you, the viewer, think. If you want to influebnce my descision, eitehr email me at ninjawasabi@aol.com or lave me a review for THIS chapter telling me what you think. (Heres a hint-Im also looking for prereaders for my new IZ fic, Northern Lights. So if you email me, youll prolly get tapped for preread duties fi youre willing.)
Dib: Oh...um...hey, everyone, you know whats neat?
Harmony: What?
Dib:Celibacy! Right? You know? Eehehehe....
Harmony: Aww...he's so cute...anyway, on with chapter 4! And be sure to email or leave a review!
Dib: Ehehe...heh...
-
Weakness
Chapter 4-We Dont Want You Back
-
Dib was nervous. He flinched at the teachers scream.
"You worthless child! Come back here so we may finish what we have begun!"
The lunchbell rang.
Miss Bitters growled. "Fine. All of you leave like the weaker one did. Be prepared to pay for it afterwards."
The kids filed out of the schoolroom, all murmuring to themselves about the odd occurence. noone really knew the girl that had run out of the room a few minutes ago, she was a loner. Didnt say anything unless she was called on, didnt do anything unless she was asked to. Dib was hard-pressed to think of her name. However, he felt responsible (at least a little) for what had just happened, so he set off to find her.
He paced the halls, went through the library, patrolled the drinking fountains-nothing. Finnaly it occured to him, since it was lunch, that she might be eating in the cafeteria. At least, Dib hoped she was-he was out of places to look and he was pretty hungry.
He charged into the cafeteria, pausing by the vending machines to catch his breath. There she was! A little pale girl, two long brown braids hanging down into her sack lunch. She sat along, shoulders shuddering occasionally. Dib's stomach twisted- that was HIS fault.
He looked over at the food line-way, way too long. Vender-bought goodies would have to do for today. He bought some chips and a soda, then walked over to the table and sat across from her.
"Umm..." (oh man, whats her name...oh yeah.) "Fin?"
She snuffled a little and looked up, then she turned bright red. "Oh, um, is this your spot?" She began to gather her lunch. "ill move-"
"No, wait!" He waved his hands. "I just want to talk to you!"
"Oh." She looked up at him, eyes wide and brimming. "Yeah?"
(Oh, man...Im awful with this stuff...) "Umm...well, that "alien scum" thing, it wasnt ment for you...I thought you were someone else, see."
"Oh, you mean Zim?" She giggled. "Why would HE write you a love letter?"
Dib sighed. "Um, I dont wanna get into it."
Fin's eyes widened. "Ohhh...I see. You know, I always guessed..."
Dib squinted one eye. "Guessed? Guessed what?"
"That you and Zim were um...you know..."
"No, I dont..."
"You know...an item."
"A-A-A WHAT?!" Dib sputtered. "Me and Zim?! Oh, no, no, no no..." He shook his head vehemently. "Me and Zim arent-were never gonna-I couldnt-"
"Oh, its okay." She sighed. "I can deal with the fact youre gay."
"I-um..." Dib was so red blood vessles were in danger of bursting in his face. He sighed. What was the point of lying to her about it now? "...could ya keep it to yourself?"
"Sure." She smiled. "Um...I know you dont wanna date me...but could we stil be friends?"
"Friends?" Dib blinked. "Um, yeah! Yeah, that would be great!"
"Cool!" She laughed. "Well, this actually turned out better then I thought it would..."
Dib smiled. A friend...This was new. Noone, in the history of his life, had ever ASKED to be his friend. To be honest, he'd never really HAD any friends. This day was looking up.
-
"Faggot!"
Dib landed on the ground-hard. Dirt gritted between his teeth. He struggled to his knees, stalk of hair hanging in his eyes. His tormentor, a tall football player named Karl, laughed and kicked some dirt at him. "Watch your step, you scrawny fag."
"I didnt mean to..." Dib cughed a little. he had made the mistake of stepping on Karl's foot in the hallway. When the end-of-the-day bell had rung, the angry jock and two of his buddys had dragged him out to the baseball field and were currently giving him a beating. One of them picked him up, arms held behind his back. "Oww! Cut it out!"
"'oww! cut it awwwt!'" Karl howled in a high falsetto. "Aww, the little fag dosent like to play...maybe hed be more comfortable on his knees?"
They howled with laughet and forced him to his knees. Dib winced when his knees bit into the hard packed dirt. They yanked his trenchcoat off and threw it to the side. "We need a little room here, queeny, hope ya dont mind!"
"I-mmmph!" They forced him face down into the dirt.
"Bite the ground, Dibby-poo." They laughed, showering blows down on him. Dib moaned, trying to squirm away from their fists. Suddenly, the blows stopped. He heard three dull thumps as Karl and his buddies landed on the ground. He sat up, rubbing his head. He rolled his shoulders and moaned. There would be plenty of bruises to remember this by...he glanced around, confused.
"Are you alright, Dib?"
He glared over in the direction of the voice. "Zim. What do YOU want."
"I just saved your life. You could thank me."
"Never!"
Zim sighed. "Alright, DIB. We'll do this the hard way." He pulled a space-type gun from behind his back.
"No!" Dib tried to scrabble away, then the beam hit him and everything went black.
-
"Uhn..." Dib tried to sit up. A heavy weight sat on his chest. He strained to look, but could only discenrn metal. It was rumbling, faintly. He raised his arms to try and slowly removie it-
It sprang up, vacant blue eyes studying him happily. "Helll-oo-oo!!"
"Hi." Dib looked around. "Where AM I?"
"Youre right here!" it giggled.
"Yeah, okay. Can you please, um, get off my chest?"
"Okay!" It jumped off. "I have a cupcake!"
"Thats nice." Dib glanced around. Well. He had been laying on a couch in what looked like a normal living toom...
..except for that huge web of metal tubing and screens in the celing...
"Augh!" He jumped up. "Zim! Zim, where are you?!?"
"Im right here." Zim walked up to him and handed him a cold bag. "Put this on your head."
Dib threw it on the ground. "What is it, an alien mind-control device?"
"No. Its ice." Zim sighed and picked up the icepack. "So youre awake?"
"What have you done to me?!?"
Zim laughed. "Calm down, Dib. All Ive done is bandage your wounds." Dib glanced down at his arms-they were covered in bandages. "I used a biotic compound known as Neosporin...GIR said he saw it in a commercial."
"GIR?"
"Me! Me me me me meee-ee!!" The robot did a cartwheel and landed in a trashcan. Dib laughed a little despite himself, then he glared over at Zim. "Why are you being nice to me?"
Zim sat on the couch and gestured to the seat next to him. "Sit down, Dib."
"Ill stand, thanks." He folded his arms. "What is it, Zim?"
Zim sighed. "Well, Dib, I think you need to know that the Irken invasion of the Planet Earth has been called off."
Dib's eyes widened, then narrowed. "This is a trick, isnt it? Youre just trying to lure me into a state of false security so you can take over more easily!"
"No, Dib. Its no trick. Here, watch this." He pressed a button on the wall. A screen descended from the celing. A bit of static flashed across the screen, and then 2 aliens appeared.
"Zim?" one said.
"Yes, oh almighty tallest?" Zim bowed befor ethe screen.
"Why are you calling us? You know we dont want you back here. I told you before, we have no intention of invading the earth. So stop calling already!" The screen went to black.
Zim looked over at Dib. "See? No invasion. I no longer pose a threat to you or your people Dib...however, as you can see, I clearly have no where else to go."
Dib blinked. This HAD to be a trick. "So why are you telling me all this, Zim? Im your ENEMY."
"Dib." He sighed. "I dont WANT to be your enemy. Youre the only kid I know here, and Ill need help to make it on my own. Couldnt we just get along, maybe?"
"I...um..." Dib shook his head. This was, well...unexpected.
"I need to learn more about the earth, its customs, its inhabitants...if you teach me about your world, I will teach you about Irk. Anythng you would like to know, I can tell you." Zim paused. "As long as you dont put me on an autopsy table."
"Umm..." Dib sighed. he despized Zim, yes, but as a paranormalist the opportunity was too much to pass up. He stuck his hand out. "Deal."
Zim grinned. "Wonderful." They shook, a little tersley.
Dib yanked his hand back. "Um, I have to get home for dinner. Thanks...for bnadaging me up and stuff."
"Its not a problem. Would you like to come over tomorow and start learning about Irk?"
"Um ,sure." Dib turned to the door.
"Dib?"
He looked over his shoulder. "Yeah?"
"What is a 'faggot'?"
Dib blinked. "Um...its, um...a guy that likes otehr guys....instead of girls....you know...to love?"
Zim nodded. "And thats a bad thing on this planet?"
Dib looked away. "Some people think so."
Zim shrugged. "Thats very odd...on Irk, it is standard practice to pair the males with the males. Oh well. Thank you, Dib, and Ill see you tomorow."
"Umm...okay. Bye." He charged out the door.
Zim watched him run, then turned to his trashcan and tipped it over. GIR clunked on the floor. "GIR. I need you to polish the vootrunner. Make it shine."
"Yes, sir!" GIR trotted off.
"Computer! Access vocal log!"
The computer groaned out the request. A tone sounded.
"Operation Impending Dib-Crushing Phase 1." he paused. "Gaining Dib's trust, I feel, is going better then expected. The beating in the baseball field was a stroke of luck. Using his injuries, I drew him into the house and bandaged his wounded arms. Although he rejected my overtures of kindness and acted quite suspicious, he still agreed to teach me about earth. I will have to risk some security, but once Dib is crushed permanently what he knows will not matter in the slightest."
"All in all, I believe I will hold Dib in the palm of my hand by the end of my month."
