Disclaimer: Sometimes Love Just Aint Enough is by Patty Smyth
Chapter 16: The Last Dance
Dib woke up to the sound of an announcement. He didn't remember falling asleep but obviously he had. He became instantly alert, his eyes flashing open as he focused on the words floating towards him from the gym.
"-will now begin!"
He spun towards Zim and began shaking her, "ZIM! Zim, wake up! It's starting!"
The alien's forehead wrinkled in irritation, but her eyes remained closed. "Mmph! Sleepy..."
She burrowed her face into his shoulder.
From the gym came cheers and applause.
Dib again contemplated letting her sleep through it, but his sudden sense of urgency wouldn't let him. "Zim, if I let you sleep you won't be able to win the contest! Is that what you want?"
That got her attention. She shot up just as alertly as Dib had. "WHAT?"
He grabbed her hand and pulled her after him, "Come on!"
The dance floor was already crowded with couples and no one seemed to notice their sudden entrance. For a few panicked seconds, Dib forgot what he was supposed to do. Then he turned to Zim, composed himself and forced a smile. "Shall we dance?"
Zim, though still a bit tipsy, composed herself as well and nodded, "Let's!"
One minute they were smoldering eye to eye, the next they were up and spinning into a modified jitterbug, the rhythm of the music guiding their steps.
Zim slightly hitched up the hem of her dress so as not to tangle her feet, and the shimmering skirt swirled dramatically with every turn.
Zim had on low quarters, but still managed to pull off some ballet-style twirls. Dib moved just as gracefully, both supporting and showcasing her. The other couples were turning their heads towards them, and they suddenly had a lot more room.
Dib felt the confidence and rhythm fill every inch of his body except his eyes. Those were still vulnerable to his whims and he kept bringing them back to Zim's face. It might have been the alcohol she'd had earlier, but her face was a bit flushed and then there were her eyes...they weren't accusing or angry, as they had been earlier, just-sad. Dib looked away, yet inexplicably he'd find himself staring into them again.
The song was over. Dib and Zim came off autopilot and took notice that they were the only ones left on the dance floor. The crowd around them clapped and cheered. Dib blushed and smiled awkwardly while Zim was just feeling the effects of a raging hang-over. She fell against Dib and the human guided her towards the chair of an empty table.
The DJ smiled and laughed into the microphone. "Well, I don't see the point in paper voting anymore, but we got all these scraps up here so come on up and write in the names of who you think deserves the title of Dance King and Queen!"
Zim groaned and laid her head on the table. "Ugh..."
Dib rubbed her back, and the pain subsided a little. "It's almost over."
"Isn't this a surprise?" said the DJ when all the votes were tallied, "The winners are Zim and Dib Membrane! Congrats you two! Come on up here!"
Dib guided Zim up the podium stairs and held her steady as they placed the tiara on her head, and crown upon his own, though his was a bit small...
More cheers from the crowd.
"Now!" the Dj said, as he shooed the winning couple off to the dance floor, "Time for the last dance! Let's let the new King and Queen start us off!"
(The tempo began)
Zim felt herself going tipsy again. She let herself fall against Dib and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes in an attempt to get the room to stop spinning. Now her brain was swimming in its own juices and she felt like throwing up. Not good. Zim clutched at her partner and held in her stomach, trembling but not wanting to open her mouth and warn him for fear that she'd lose it if she did. Realizing something was wrong, Dib's hand began rubbing up and down her back. He rubbed until she stopped shaking.
(No, I don't want to lose you,
but I don't want to use you,
just to have somebody by my side.)
Again she wondered for the hundredth time if it wasn't too late to win him over. And again for the hundredth and first time she shot the idea down. He'd proven over and over where his true loyalties lied! There was no way she could ever trust him...
Zim glared at the boy.
The corners of Dib's mouth twitched. And then he smiled. A sad, yet affectionate smile.
She forgot to keep glaring.
...Or was there?
(And I don't want to hate you.
I don't want to take you,
but I don't want to be one to cry.)
Dib wondered for the umpteenth time if he'd made the right decision. Why should he continue protecting people who couldn't care less about him, if it cost him the one person who did? If you truly loved someone, would you really go around working against them behind their back, even if it was for what you thought to be a good cause? Would you really sacrifice your love for the good of others who had only caused you harm or who you will never meet? Love is supposed to be the strongest bond there is... Can one truly betray it if it is indeed there? Maybe he needed to rethink his personal definition of "love"...
(And that don't really matter to anyone anymore.
But like a fool I keep losing my place
and I keep seeing you walk through that door.)
Dib considered the alien in his arms for a moment. In the dimly lit gymnasium with squares of light from the disco balls flickering over her, she looked so surreal. Like a dream. And maybe this was a dream. Maybe the REAL Zim had gotten him in his sleep and his real body was lying in a coma in a hospital somewhere and he'd hallucinated the entire week. He'd have to have been hallucinating to seriously believe he and Zim could ever be anything but enemies. Logic wasn't a very effective medicine for the hurt inside him, though.
(There's a danger in loving somebody too much,
and it's sad when you know it's your heart you can't trust.
There's a reason why people don't stay where they are...
Baby, sometimes, love just ain't enough...)
Dib held her tighter, as if his hold on her were the only thing keeping her from vanishing into thin air, keeping her real, keeping him from waking up. In a way, this was true. The moment the dance was over and he let her go, the truce would end. She'd become his enemy again. The dream of them being together would end and he'd wake up to the harsh reality of being alone. All because they were both too stubborn, both expecting the other to give in, and disappointed when they didn't. It wasn't fair.
(No, I could never change you
and I don't want to blame you.
Baby, you don't have to take the fall.)
Why did it have to hurt so much? Zim wondered. Her head and her stomach churned horribly and she knew it wasn't just the drink. She didn't know if she wanted the dance to go on forever or have it end already. The strings tugging at her from her human and her empire at opposite ends of the spectrum were tearing her apart inside. If she didn't cut herself off from one or the other the force of them would kill her. Yet either path she chose, she'd be losing a part of herself in the process. Why couldn't Dib have been just another stupid moron like the rest of them? This was all his fault! She'd offered him everything, and he turned it down. None of this would've happened if he wasn't so damn self sacrificing! If he wasn't so blinded by his skewered sense of duty! If he wasn't so...so...
Human.
(Yes, I may have hurt you,
But I did not desert you.
Maybe I just want to have it all...)
"I love you."
(It makes a sound like thunder-r-r!
It makes me feel like the ra-a-ain!
Like a fool, who will never see the truth,
I keep thinking something's gonna change...)
Zim tilted her head and looked up at her partner. Even if she'd imagined the words, there was no mistaking the sorrow reflected in Dib's gaze. He did love her, but not enough to change for her sake. They both needed recognition from their people, and the means to each goal clashed violently with the other. It was the same for her, she knew. Zim could never care for another, Dib's image would be constantly in her mind, but she wouldn't change either. As long as she lived, he'd be a rock in her heart.
They locked their gazes for a moment, each saying their silent good-byes and both feeling they were losing something treasured and beautiful that might've been theirs forever. Then they looked away.
(And there's a danger in loving somebody too much,
and it's sad when you know it's your heart they can't touch.
There's a reason why people don't stay who they are...
Baby, sometimes, love just aint-)
The music cut off.
All eyes turned to center stage. On it, Shirley Sunshine stood, smiling broadly, one hand on her hip, the other holding up a mini-tape recorder.
Zim had turned to look at her along with all the other attendees. She saw the recorder. She knew what it meant.
"Sorry I'm late," Shirley said into the microphone, "Something happened and I got tied up at the last minute." She glanced briefly at Zim as she said that last part, "Anyway, it's time for you to vote for the real Dance Queen! That" she pointed at the Irken, "is an imposter! And here" she held out the recorder, "is the proof!"
She hit the 'play' button.
(End Chapter 16!)
InsaneKiwi: I always wanted to play with a drunken Zim! I think I could've done better though...meh!
Capra hircus:(waves 'GO ZIM!' flag)Found it in my refrigerator! Oo; Did you recognize anything in this chapter? You should! It sounded so much better than the internal dialogue I'd originally written up for him to say.
Sullen Goldpaws Extrordinaire: I found the 'Tell Zim to shut her it" quote as a signature at the bottom of someone's avatar on Deviantart. The person's sig also said they'd gotten it from a Role Playing game. I liked it so it's here now!
gimmesheeps: Man, did THIS guy ever walk into the wrong room!
DibMagician: I considered having them miss it, and Zim being too out of it to care, but I didn't know where to go with it, so they dance, win and cue the villain!
SingerOfDoom: Nope, not scared yet! I have a high level of immunity to spookayness!
Anukis-san: Hooray for Kudos! I'll just put it here on my shelf with all the others (puts Anukis-san's kudos next to Zim and Dib plushies I forced to sit in each other's laps-don't ask how I managed that, I just DID, okay?)
Halacanno: It rules with a well manicured fist it does! And why would sane people read this anyway? ZADR is WRONG and EVIL don'tcha know?
Anime Obsessor YR: How are you going to promise the same arm to two people? I have no intention of sharing with the DikolaiAri-beast! Just because YOU think she has no reason, doesn't mean SHE thinks she has no reason! Some people are insane! You never know who the weirdoes are! BEWARE! Beware for your life and limbs!
Wimmyfoo: The goodness seems to have come to an end! What fate should befall our cross-dressing hero? Or villain, depending on who you're rooting for.
'Invader' Kri: You're review was very thoughtful and random as well! Two chapters left to go! They are written! Hope you enjoy those too!
