Chapter 11: Show Me
Dib looked at his watch for the umpteenth time that morning. Where was Zim? She said she'd be here. Did she change her mind? Had something happened to her on the way over? Was she, even now, lying hurt and unnoticed in a ditch somewhere?
He shook his head angrily, Stop it!
"Mr. Membrane!" (A/N: again, I emphasize, I KNOW that's not his real name!)
Dib swung his head to look at the annoyed third period teacher, "Um, yes?"
"Would you mind telling me what you have planned for after class today, that is so important, you must check your timepiece every five minutes?"
The boy tugged his collar nervously, "Uh, sorry. I, er, don't really but-"
Brrrrrring!
Saved by the bell!
Dib scooped up his books and ran out the room without finishing his explanation. He was going insane with worry. It was lunchtime now, and Zim was still missing. He decided right then and there that the rest of the school day could go to Hell. He was going to go find Zim, and if he found her lounging around on her couch or something, he was gonna give her a piece of his mind! Which, when you think about it, is still very large...
In passing by his locker, he stopped, turned and went back, opting to take the time to get rid of the books in his hands in case he ended up having to carry Zim.
Slamming it shut, he didn't even bother to lock it, Dib cut his way amidst the thick river of bodies flowing in opposite directions within the hallways, towards the exit at the front.
The second he stepped outside, the first thing he saw was-
"ZIM!"
The invader looked almost ready to keel over. Her wig was crooked and she had patches of hair sticking out at odd angles, her clothes were rumpled and torn.
"Dib..."
The boy ran up and she collapsed into his arms. He carefully guided her to a shady, somewhat secluded part of the school grounds, and sat her down against the shade-giving tree's trunk.
"What happened to you, Zim?" he looked her over worriedly, wanting to touch her but afraid of hurting her, "Did you get caught in the cross-fire of the neighborhood?" His eyes hardened, "I swear if it was those damned kids again, I'm going to-"
"The Shirley beast," Zim wheezed, "The intruders...they mentioned her...said I should... surrender you...couldn't let them...my base-"
"Shh, Zim!" he sat down next to her, "It's okay." He reached over and began stroking her cheek, "Just rest for now. Catch your breath. It's okay, Zim. Shh..."
Zim closed her eyes and rested her head against Dib's shoulder. She stayed that way until the pounding in her head returned to its rightful place in her chest, and then muted until it became a dull background noise.
She wanted to forget everything then. She didn't want to explain to the human that she'd lost her base, that he might be in danger and she also didn't want to ask for his help. She didn't want to appear weak. And yet here she was, looking like she'd just stepped out of a tornado, and Dib was here, holding her, and she realized it wasn't all that bad...
She opened her eyes and looked up at him, "I think I know who they were," Zim said, recalling the flash of yellow, the swinging black braids, and the silhouette with curls, "There were three of them. I heard two different voices when I was trapped in my lab, and there was another one on the ground floor waiting for me when I was escaping."
Although Dib didn't know the details, Zim's mention of Shirley's name earlier and the fact that there were three culprits tipped him off.
His eyes narrowed in anger, and he grabbed the alien's shoulders fiercely. "Did they hurt you?"
"No," Zim laced the word with disgust, "But I plan to hurt them!"
She tried to stand then, but Dib's hold didn't let her.
"No, Zim," he said, getting up himself, "Let me handle it!"
Zim glared furiously at the human, "What do you mean by this, Dib-monkey! It was me that they-"
Dib cut her off by kneeling down and pulling the Irken close, kissing her lips hard and desperately, wrapping her body tightly in his arms. It was a long time before he finally pulled away, and when he did, his expression had softened, his eyes pleading with her instead.
"Just...just trust me on this one, Zim," he said, touching his forehead to hers, "Please..."
Zim didn't know why he was acting so strangely, but she suddenly wasn't as angry as she'd been a moment ago. She decided there was no harm or pride lost in letting her partner stand up for her. It was even sort of sweet...
She wrapped her own arms around his waist and nuzzled her head under his chin.
"Fine, Dib-worm, but you must inform me on all the details when you return, understood?"
Dib kissed the top of her head and gave her a brief hug. "I will."
He pulled away again, "Wait for me here. I won't be long."
One quick kiss later, he sped away, heading for the usual meeting grounds of the blond vixen and her pack.
Little did he know that Shirley was already way ahead of him.
(Page break)
Zim looked after Dib until he turned the corner of the building and was out of sight. She wondered what he would say and do when he found the group leader. Dib would never actually hit a girl. That just wasn't in his code. Zim, however, wasn't above that, and now that he was posing as a girl himself, no one could think less of him/her. She giggled at the memory of Dib earlier that week, surrounded and overwhelmed by the entire female population of the school, as they pulled and snagged at him like a couple of slaughtering rats fighting over a Skooge. Had it really been only a week? It seemed like ages ago now. She sighed and turned around-
To face the very three harpies that had captured her so recently.
Zim leapt up in reflex and assumed her fighter's stance. She would not be taken in twice!
"You!"
Red Curls smiled at her, "Yes, us. How you doing, Zim?"
"What do you want?"
Black Braids answered, "I believe you already know the answer to your inquiry."
"NEVER! I already told you! He's MINE! And I won't give him up without a fight!" Zim crouched, ready to spring at them if they so much as breathed the wrong way!
Black Braids raised a hand, palm facing the invader.
Zim paused, eyeing the girl curiously, "That will not be necessary." she continued, "We have not come to fight you. You see, we happen to have a bit of information that just might sway your decision without resorting to violence." BB lowered her hand then, "The Dib plans to betray you."
Zim's eyes widened as she stared at them. After a moment, she finally composed himself and glared.
"YOU LIE! Filthy earth females! You're trying to trick me! The Dib would never do such a thing! You spew LIES!"
Yellow Pig Tails was next to speak, "We knew you wouldn't believe us if we just said so; so we're gonna let you listen to him admit it himself! If you're willing to come with us, that is..."
Zim regarded each girl warily in turn, trying to spot the lie, a crack in their composure, a twitching of their lips. She found nothing.
"This...this is just another scheme to capture me, isn't it? You're just trying to lure me into some pathetic trap!"
RC shook her curls, "No trap. In fact, all we're gonna do is lead you to a good listening spot. We'll even stand as far away as you like." She allowed herself a smirk, "Unless you're scared to learn the truth, of course?"
Zim bit her lip, trying to fight the doubt that gnawed at her squeedly spooch. There really wasn't anything to fear was there? This was all probably just a bluff! They were expecting her to reject their offer, because they knew that, even if she denied it, she'd be left with nagging doubts that might show when Dib returned. Those doubts were sure to do damage to the trust that had built up between them, the trust she'd worked so hard for. But she'd show them! She'd follow these worm beasts to wherever it was, just to prove them wrong! She had faith in her human.
Zim set her jaw and stared straight at them, looking every inch the Irken soldier that she was.
She nodded curtly, "Show me."
(End Chapter 11!)
Whee...this is getting exciting, neh? (crickets chirping) -.-
Neeways, Thankies FutureRulerZim, and night-emerald for beta-reading!
Anime Obsessor YR: (Big watery eyes) Thankies SO much for reviewing all my ficcies! I've already got your REAL B-Day present ready, but you'll have to wait for your REAL B-day! I know you'll like it! (At least, I think I know...) Oo;
Diana: Um...where did you get the idea that Dib's being...mean? He wasn't even IN the last chapter! Oo; Meh, thanks for the review anyways!
All Apologies: Although 2 weeks isn't quite ASAP I hope it's still good enough to not have you lose interest in it...thankies!
Invader Zae: I'm HOPING s/he'll do that! I haven't quite figured out HOW, but I'm working on it! Thank ya!
InvaderRed: Thanks for reading this one too! And DEATH to the Smeets! EVERYONE LOVES SMEETS! NOBODY remembers my REAL baby! (hugs DQ)
Dreamer16: Glad you likes!
Alaklain: FINALLY! Someone said they love my baby! WE LOVES YOU, TOO! (gives Alaklain the 'You've Made My Day' Award)
