Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I don't have any money. Don't sue me.

Warnings: Slash

Author's notes: VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ! Okay, you guys may notice a similarity in this chapter to Joydrop's last chapter of "Complications". I worked it differently, but I wanted you to know that I didn't steal the idea, and I emailed Joydrop to ask if she was okay with my posting it, and she said she was. This is a shortish chapter, but I felt like it should be a separate chapter, because of stuff what happens. Okay, enjoy!



FIGHT! Dib's tough decision.



The next few weeks were weird, to say the least. When Zim and Dib were in "couple mode", they functioned wonderfully, better than a more normal couple, and while they hadn't had sex yet, the sex life they had was very.healthy. Occasionally, however, Zim would try some new scheme, and Dib would stop him, like when they were rivals. The rivalry part of their relationship had taken on an easy sort of flow, though, because Zim and Dib both knew that making up would be in order afterwards. This worked fine until.the incident. Zim's weasels had finally ripened, after 6 years of waiting. He was looking forward to using them, not to take over the world, but to cause a little bit of general chaos. Dib broke into his lab and destroyed the weasels before Zim even had a chance to test one. Needless to say, Zim was pissed.

"I worked REALLY hard on those, Dib!"

"You worked REALLY hard on every plan I thwart, Zim. What makes this different?"

"I've been waiting 6 years for those weasels to ripen, Dib. 6 YEARS. Years. Do you understand that? I was really looking forward to testing them! You knew that, I told you! Don't you ever think?"

"I couldn't just let you bring the world into some sort of.weasel Armageddon!"

"You must have caught brain worms from one of our classmates. How the HELL would I take over the world with exploding weasels alone?"

"I don't KNOW. Considering some of your other plans, I wouldn't put it past you."

Zim spun around in frustration. "Dib, I am trying very, very, veeeeeery hard to control my temper right now. You knew how important those were to me, and I cannot fight with you anymore. We're constantly destroying each other's hard work. It's difficult, because I want to spend every minute of the day with you, but at the same time I wish you would get the HELL out of my house so I can work on my plans undisturbed."

Dib blanched at this, though he sometimes felt the same way, when he was in the midst of designing new anti-alien technology.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"If we can't work this out Dib, we're going to have to go back to being rivals and rivals only. I don't want that to happen, because I love you. With all my heart."

Dib's eyes widened slightly, as this was the first time Zim said that.

"I love you too, Zim, but I can't just doom the Earth."

"WHY NOT? You've told me yourself that Gaz and I are the only people you truly care about! Can't you even consider helping me? All these people do is screw you over, again and again, but you still try to save them. You don't even know what I'm planning for Earth, yet you still try to stop me, to save them. The people who try to keep you down. The ones who beat you up and mocked you. The ones who ignored the people who did it. All I want is a chance. A chance to prove that this would be better for you, and for humanity."

"Zim.I.talk."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, but I get to ask any questions I want, and you have to answer them. There are a lot of things I have to consider before deciding anything, and I want three days after we're finished to think about it."

"Fair enough. What do you want to know?"

"What do you have planned for Earth?"

"During invasion, the humans who resist will be killed, but that is a.gift."

"Given."

"Whatever. After I defeat the opposition from Earth, I will call the Tallest and ask them to send me the Armada. They will, if I control the planet already. They will update the technology on this planet so it will be suitable for Irken colonization. Then I will rule here with an iron fist. Unless you join me, in which case, we will rule with an iron fist."

"What about the humans left over from the war?"

"At first, they will be slaves. We'll need laborers to update the technology and mine resources."

"At first?"

"All slaves in the Irken Empire have the opportunity to gain citizenship. It is difficult, to be sure, but it can be done. There are tests of loyalty, physical and military prowess, intelligence and basic skills to be passed. Once they gain Irken citizenship, they are treated as any other irken would be. They would, of course, be expected to submit to irkens in authority positions."

"I still don't like the idea of slavery."

"Dib, look around you. Humans still enslave each other. You have to specially request fair trade coffee. Fetish shrines in Turkey. Little Haitian children working their fingers bloody for a cent an hour so rich countries can have Nike clothing. Homeless people stuck in a cycle, never able to get a job because what little money they get has to be used for survival."

"I know all that Zim."

"Well, before you get high and mighty about enslaving humans, you would do well to remember that many already are."

Dib looked pensive. "You're right, of course. What about Earth's geography?"

"Irk's atmosphere is similar to Earth's. Since there are already enough colonization sites on Earth, the geography will remain untouched. Many irkens have an affinity for the wild, you know."

"Hmmm. and the safety of my family?"

"So long as they remain loyal to Irk, they will be automatically granted citizenship and left alone. If they choose to fight, I can't make any guarantees."

"This is a lot to think about, Zim. I'm gonna go home now, and I'll be back when I decide." Dib turned to leave, but stopped short when Zim called his name.

"Let me say one last thing before you leave. This civilization is already in decline. The human race is running out of resources and space. Fast. A change may benefit humanity more than damage it. If it doesn't, remember our classmates. Remember all the things you told me about Gaz, her abuse. Your father, who only has dinner with you once a year. Think of the greedy, the ones who don't care about other people as long as they get what they want. And please, if you don't remember anything else, remember that I love you, even if you don't join me, but I can't take this on and off animosity anymore."

"Zim." Dib was speechless. "I love you, too."

With that, he turned away and left for home. He had a lot of thinking to do.



(Further) Author's notes: Thanks to Curious Blue for beta-ing. I probably won't have the last chapter up till after Christmas (I'm gonna make you wait, muahahahahaha) sooooo.Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Cwazy Kwanza, Yelpin' Yule, and a Solemn, Dignified Ramadan to you all. Oh! And Happy New Year!