Thank-you so much for all the reviews!!! This chapters way longer for all you people who said they were too short (trying my best!)!!! I'm trying to write these as fast as I can, but my computers had loads of errors recently and Microsoft word basically wouldn't work! I still have to figure out exactly how this is going to end. Well I won't bore you any longer! Enjoy!

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Chapter 3

Open mind

For a few days now Dib had been watching the alien closely, but he was still no closer to uncovering what was wrong. It just didn't make sense. Zim had gone abnormally long without trying another plan for world conquest or trying to destroy Dib. In fact Zim hadn't even looked at him.

All this made Dib feel that his behaviour was genuine, and that something really was wrong. And, in a strange way that made him feel somewhat uneasy, he felt sort of concerned.

So being unable to ignore it any longer, Dib had taken his sisters advice (weird) and was headed towards the peculiar greenish 'house', eager to discover the source of Zim's irregular behaviour.

He carefully trudged up the path, noting that the gnomes appeared to be offline. When he cautiously rang on the doorbell, an all too happy face appeared at the door.

"HI!" GIR yelled. "You're the Dib human!"

"Uh, yeah, is Zi-"

"You got any tacos?" he interrupted.

"Uh, no... listen, is Zi-"

"Ooooooooooooo. Your head's biiiiiiiig!"

"MY HEAD'S NOT BIG!" Dib gasped.

"You wanna see my master?"

"YES!"

"Okaaaaay, sheesh!" And with that GIR toddled off.

Dib was left with the door to Zim's house left wide open, with no one on guard (Zim really was a bad invader). Normally he would have been in in seconds, scouring every corner and taking pictures.

But this time, it just didn't feel right. So he stood there, waiting at the entrance to possibly the oddest home.

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After quite a while (he had to stop to get a slurpe), GIR finally found Zim transfixed by the blank transmission screen once again. He stood next to him, squeakily sucking on his chocolate bubblegum drink watching the interference dance on the screen.

"I love this show!"

Zim jumped. He hadn't noticed the tiny robot standing next to him.

"GIR?" He croaked, almost as if he were in a daze.

"That's me!" He screeched.

"What do you want? I thought you were watching TV?"

"Ooooohhhh yeeeeaaaahhh...TV!" He suddenly shot off.

Zim looked questioningly after the robot.

Back up in the house GIR had returned to the sofa and continued to stare obsessively at the scary monkey show. Dib looked at him.

"Well? Where's Zi-"he stopped mid-sentence, as Zim had just rose out of the toilet.

"Dib? What are you doing here?" Zim shouted trying to hide the depression in his voice- rather unsuccessfully.

Dib was startled at Zim's sudden appearance and the fact that he had even acknowledged that he was there. It was the first time since his unusual behaviour had begun that Zim had spoken to Dib, or even met his eyes.

Zim had been in increasing pain with the loneliness each day. Being at Skool soothed it, but only a little. After all, it's not like anyone even looked at him. He noticed immediately how Dib seemed to be acting differently than normal; rather than inspecting the house and cam cording everything like he normally would have done, had he been left alone at Zim's house, he had stood patiently at the door.

"Well? What do you want?" Zim prompted. 'Probably just wants to kick me while I'm down' he thought to himself weakly. He was not in the mood to fight back.

There was an awkward silence. Dib stepped in and shut the door gently behind him, thinking about how he could word what he wanted to say.

"Well, I noticed that you......errr......haven't been yourself lately." Zim gave him a puzzled look. "And, I was wondering what was wrong?"

"I can assure you I am perfectly fine Dibstink. Can't you see that?" he tried his best to cover his voice, but to no avail.

"No you're not okay Zim, anyone who stopped for a second could see that you're not okay. What's happened?"

"Is this some sort of a trick?" Zim spat- he was running out of comebacks. "Why would you even care? You want my guts strewn over am autopsy table remember?"

Zim felt angry at Dib for prying at his private life, but he also felt pleasantly surprised that Dib really did seem to care. Part of him just felt like pouring his heart out to him right now.

"Zim...I-look. This is difficult for me to say you know! I'm trying to help!"

"Why would you want to help me?" Zim could no longer fight the tears. They came streaming down his face in floods. "No one wants to help me!" he collapsed against the wall, his face drenched. It did feel good to finally release those tears.

Dib watched Zim, worried that he had taken this too far. What should he do now? There was no way he expected him to fall apart like this.

Zim pulled his knees to his chest and buried his face. He jumped slightly as he felt a warm arm wrap round his shoulder, sending warm tingles down his spine. Zim was aware of Dib crouching next to him against the wall, half hugging him. It felt good. He realised that it was the first time in his life that anyone had ever comforted him like this, and also for the first time, the hollow inside him that loneliness had dug out was being effectively filled with warmth.

Dib had half expected Zim to throw him off, but he was glad he hadn't. He was lonely too, but it was different. It was normal for humans to long for companionship (with the exception of his sister) and feel lonesome when they lacked it, but it was not normal for Irkens.

Also Dib had been alone most of his life- his mum had died when he was only tiny, his dad was hardly ever home, and when he was he was always busy, his normal greeting being 'my poor insane son', Gaz, well just being Gaz and everyone else just thinking he was the 'crazy UFO kid' and nothing more.

He felt it was slightly wrong to suddenly feel concern for his arch nemesis and to be hugging him, but it felt good.

For a while they stayed there, huddled up against the cold cruel world, enjoying the sensation of being close to one another.

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After quite some time, Zim lifted his head and mumbled a single word,

"Why?"

"Why what? Dib answered softly

"Why do you care?"

"I...I just felt concerned when something seemed to be wrong with you."

"But you hate me! Why do you want to help?"

"Look, I'm not sure I understand it either, but that's just the way I feel." Zim looked at him with a new admiration.

"So are you going to tell me what's wrong now?"

Zim didn't know why he told Dib, of all people, he didn't know why he was trusting him, but he told him everything. As he finished off, he felt an enormous weight lifted off him.

The whole time Dib had listened attentively without interrupting. He understood that Zim needed to let it all out. He contemplated what Zim had said about being lonely. He had certainly had it harsh, left on an alien plant with no friends. Abandoned.

He looked up and saw Zim staring at him with a new look in his eyes- a look of new hope, respect, thanks- a look Dib never thought he'd encounter from Zim.

His deep ruby eyes still glistened slightly with warm tears, trickling steadily down his face. It really felt like he was a different person. Dib suddenly realised they were staring into each other's eyes and blushed, looking away.

Zim didn't really understand why humans blushed, so it didn't really mean anything to him.

"Well...I guess I could help with the loneliness. If you want that is..." Dib muttered. Zim nodded- he didn't care that it was Dib, especially not now that his mission was over.

"I'm... not sure what to do" Dib struggled.

"I just feel better when I'm around people I can trust." Zim whispered, trying to control his tears. "Can I trust you?"

Dib nodded. "As long as I can trust you." He smiled weakly. They both knew deep down that they could trust each other, but by saying it aloud, it sort of confirmed it.

Zim huddled closer to Dib, leant his head against him and closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of Dibs body.

Although Dib liked the feeling of being close to Zim, he told himself it wasn't right. He had too many feelings rushing through him, and the one that prevailed seemed to shout out, 'you can't do this! It's just wrong!'

Zim had no idea about human relationships, which made it worse for Dib. How could he explain it? He presumed Zim was male, but that was the even weirder thing- he didn't know!

He slowly edged away from Zim and stood up, suddenly feeling very embarrassed about being so close to him.

"Errrrr..." Dib started. Zim looked up at him questioningly. Dib had never seen him look so pitiful. "What do you want me to do?"

Zim shrugged. He wasn't sure about it but nevertheless Dib said, "maybe I should stay the night, to make sure you're okay?" he really had no idea if Irkens even slept.

Zim nodded eagerly. So Dib went to get his nightclothes and things, and told Gaz where he would be spending the night. Of course, the only answer he got was an irritated "ugh" as she stormed off to her room to slay vampire piggies in peace.

When he returned, he found that Zim hadn't moved from his spot on the floor.

"Um...do you sleep at all?" Dib asked hesitantly. That seemed to bring Zim out of his little trance.

"What? Oh... a little... I guess. Irkens only need a couple of hours rest every so often. I haven't slept in a while though, what with... everything." He needn't go on.

"Where do you sleep?"

"I normally rest downstairs in my lab, but I guess the sofa would be more comfortable for your human body." With that, Dib threw his sleeping bag on the couch, and unpacked his pyjamas.

Then another thought struck him- one he really should have thought of. "Err, where do I change?" he blushed.

Zim gave him another bewildered look. Dib supposed that Zim hardly ever changed out of his uniform.

Sighing, he explained. "Humans generally change their clothes overnight."

"What for?" Zim asked, perplexed.

"It's just what we do. Now, where can I change?" he was beginning to feel impatient.

"Well... you can change right there."

This wasn't getting any easier. "Humans also change in private. Where others can't see them."

Zim wanted to ask why, but thought better of it, seeing Dibs impatient face. He let it go, and walked out of sight into the kitchen.

Dib still didn't feel comfortable, but he could tell that this was the best he was going to get.

Zim just couldn't help himself. He was curious to see what Dib was hiding, so, he peered cautiously round the corner. It was an unusual sight for Zim, but it sent strange tingles up and down his spine.

As Dib finished he turned round to find Zim staring mindlessly at him.

"ZIM! What were you-"Dib stopped as Zim realised he'd been caught, and ran back into the kitchen. He could see no point in shouting at him, especially since he didn't understand.

"Are you going to be alright?" he said, calming down. He could just make out a muffled "Yes", so he clambered into his sleeping bag and slowly drifted into sleep.

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Later that night, when Zim was sure Dib was fast asleep, Zim came up into the house where the human lay on the couch. He himself had been unable to sleep. He just kept thinking about that moment when Dibs warm body had been next to his, easing his loneliness.

Zim looked at him curiously, and felt jealous that Dib was able to enjoy such a peaceful carefree sleep. He moved closer, so that he could feel Dibs body heat radiating into his own body. It was intoxicating, like it had hooked him and was drawing him in.

He could no longer resist it. Being ignorant to human relationships (not to mention personal space) he climbed softly onto the sofa next to Dib, and cuddled up to his warm body.

He laid his soft green cheek against dibs, enjoying the feeling of his bare skin against Dibs, and wrapped his thin arms around Dibs slim body.

Finally, he could relax and drift into true sleep...