Someone Just Like You
Chapter 5: Bumps in the Night
PG-13
Written by Yuneko
Disclaimer: I don't own Invader Zim
Author's Note: Thanks again for the reviews again it makes me all warm inside
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Following the tall dark figure, Gir complied with hopping on each step pretending it to be some weird hopscotch game. His cyan eyes glowing showing a path towards Dib's room, where he awaited his Master. It hadn't been too surprising for Gir to find Zim not at home.
It wasn't like Gir was worried or anything. He wasn't capable of thinking of anything ever being bad. All he knew was that life was like a pizza. Better served hot than cold or whatever reasoning Gir could find to compare to such human junk food.
"Here we are..." Dib stopped in front of the door. Gir, not paying attention as usual smacked right into the door creating a life size hole of him right in the middle.
Dib ducking his head to Gir's height looked to inspect the damage. Yes, he would have to buy a new door. He would just have to ask his dad whenever he could manage to catch him, but for now he would deal with the sleeping alien.
Opening the door Dib found Zim sprawled on his bed with Gir jumping on it.
"MAAAAAAAASTER!" Gir shouted, banging his fists against his head like a drum. Dib remembering Gaz's promise of death of being disturbed from her beauty sleep ran over to Gir. Putting his a finger to his lips he motioned for the robot to be quiet, Gir's eyes flashed red telling Dib, the robot was listening.
"Sit over there." Dib pointed at the computer chair. Glancing at the sleeping figure, he decided not to retreat to his own bed. It was way too weird to find Zim on his bed in the first place, but he couldn't wake Zim up now for some answers.
"Yes my master!"
Pulling out the mobile mattress from underneath his bed he found that his nightclothes had been taken after all. Dib opened his drawer to pull out some shorts. Taking off his trench coat and setting it over his chair he continue to strip, only wearing his boxers.
Setting his glasses on the table he made his way to bed. Rubbing his eyes yawning Dib flopped on the bed. Taking awhile for Dib to fall asleep, he spent the time counting Big Foots over a fence.
"One Big Foot, Two Big Foot, Three Big Foot...Zzzzz..."
Gir sitting on the table climbed down, slightly confused at the site. He wasn't use to seeing anyone sleep before. Muffled slow breaths came from Dib, telling Gir he was gone to sleepy land. Exactly like what the Doctor man told him on TV.
Not knowing what to do Gir just sat there in boredom. He decided to give himself a tour around the house, leaving the two sleeping figures.
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Hearing the slam on the door Zim's eyes slowly open. The coast was clear and he could finally make his move. Slowly sitting up he quietly off the bed, accidentally tripping on Dib leg as he got off.
The Irken was awake when Dib had woken up for his midnight snack, but he didn't want the human to know he was awake. He pretended to sleep, trying hard to remember how from the insidious television Gir watched.
He was already fully energized by his pak, but having Dib know he was awake would be horrible. The alien didn't feel like explaining what was he doing in his enemy's bed. Pretending to sleep Zim would suck air in and out, breathing quietly and softy.
It seemed to fool the Dib-human after having Dib look at him so strangely. Zim had probably let on more than he should when they spoke at his house, but it didn't matter. He had used the time the human left to get a snack to look into his closet.
Finding nothing interesting around the rest of Dib's room and hearing his own idiot robot coming back up the stairs. Zim was forced to retreat back to the bed for another groundbreaking performance.
He found some articles of clothing on the bed. Assuming it was the human custom to change into proper sleep wear when doing such an activity. He quickly jammed on the shirt and shorts.
But now he was left with endless time before school started. What should he do....Zim pondered. What would be his next move to crush the human. Zim was sorely disappointed on finding nothing Dib could really blackmail him with. Only found a box of strange devices Dib ordered from his silly magazines, believing that some junk could really stop such an intelligent life force.
He looked at Dib sleeping, so vulnerable to Zim's attack. He could just put a laser hole through Dib's brain and be over it. Free to take over the world in peace and get back into the Tallest's good graces.
Opening his pak he brought out a laser gun. Loading up the cartridges he carefully aimed at Dib's head, readying to pull the trigger. But a painful feeling so great overruled his grip on the gun. He dropped the laser and on to his knees. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't see, or even hear anything.
What was going on? Was his pak malfunctioning? Zim felt hot, something burning the heat was getting to him. He stripped off his wig and contacts aside just withering from lack of moisture. He thought about taking off his clothes in hopes it would remedy his increasing temperature, but he caught and embarrassed with Dib catching him in the nude.
Zim curled into the ball, just praying for the pain to go away. His eyes were watering, his usually smooth green skin getting wrinkled. He crawled towards the most comforting blurry figure he could find, which was Dib.
Snaking his arms around Dib waist, he pressed himself against Dib feeling his hot skin cool against the stinkbeast. He lay there, staring at Dib's sleeping face, watching the slight drool coming out from his mouth. A deep feeling crawled up Zim's throat as he watched the sleeping figure. He felt very bad for trying to get rid of Dib. What was this feeling? Guilt?
Zim's alien eyes feeling much more at ease without the irritating contacts blinked. Water from his eyes burning a few seconds ago fell down upon his face. Soaking small spots on Dib's pillow. Zim felt moved again, but nothing had happen to trigger it. More water spots making small dots even bigger. Somehow it made Zim feel better letting water pass through his eyes.
Feeling better after emptying the water from his eyes Zim got up to dispose the evidence of attempted murder under the Membrane roof. Placing the gun back into his pak he opened the compartment to check what had gone wrong.
Pressing a good few buttons he found that nothing was wrong. Everything was in shape, until he checked his emotion settings for his pak. The switch was broken, being old as it was. The switch was never meant to be used to change settings, which meant he switch itself was probably made out of poor compost materials.
Zim sighed. He would need to get some tools from the lab. Getting up he made his way towards the door, but couldn't bring himself to open it. Looking at Dib's sleeping figure he sank down on the floor, bring up his communicating device from his arm he proceeded to contact Gir.
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Gir toddled on quietly upstairs walking from room to room. His cyan eyes creating a portable flashlight across the sleeping house. Walking into another room he scanned across the room.
Walls painted black will skulls, video games stack galore, and works of art strewed around the room. It was obvious the room belonged to Gaz. The robot continued to walk through finding a light emitting from the covers. Gir ran towards the light figure jumping on to the bed.
"I know where the sun HIDES!" Gir squealed.
Tackling Gaz, she fell off the bed, but her hands never leaving the Game Slave 2. She got up, her eyes twitching, and glowing darkly.
"What are you doing here?" Looking down irritably at the robot she was ready to give a brutal finishing kick out her room. But seeing the robot's eyes water she dropped her fist and sat on her bed.
"Everyone was sleeping. Gir was so loooooonely." Jumping into the pile of games and comics Gir created a huge noise from everything flying about in the room. He ran to Gaz, jumping on the bed, sending many violent feelings into Gaz's head.
Wanting to strangle Gir even more for ruining the perfect order of all her games she threw a comic book at the robot.
"READ THEN." Going back under her covers she resumed her game, hopefully undisturbed again.
Gir picking up the comic began to look through it as a picture book upside down. Sighing Gaz picked up the book from Gir's hands and placed it the right side up, motioning him to continue reading.
Suddenly from the top of Gir's head came a screen with Zim's image on it. Gaz looked on half amused and half wanting to throw her alarm clock at supposed alien face on the screen.
"HIIIIII!"
"Gir! I need you to go home and get the tool box. It's very important that you get the right one. Not the box of circuits and disembodied bodies."
"Oooookay!" Saluting at Zim, the screen became static reverting back into the tiny robot head. Gir hopped off the bed, opening Gaz's window and used his rocket pak to fly him out.
"ARGH!" Quickly getting off the bed, Gaz ran to her window and slammed it shut. Climbing back into her sheets, Gaz turned on her flashlight and continued to play again.
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It took Gir forty seven minutes with a total of six attempts to get the right box. Pacing wildly in the room, Zim muttered to himself for ever trusting Gir with an important task.
Yanking the box off Gir he pried open the latch revealing many strange and colorful tools ever known to man. Picking up a banana shaped tool he placed goggles over his eyes.
Opening his pak he started tinkering with the inner terminals with great haste. School was to begin in a few hours and he needed to work fast.
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Out in the jungle masses Dib walked through the rural road. He was searching for the illusive chokeybird. Finding himself stranded after a good hour with no where else to walk he proceeded up the cliff to get a better view.
Using his strength to pull himself over each step he made it to the top. Looking over the island in wonder it was a place of mystery and killer inhabitants.
"Keep! Keep!..." Dib heard from a deserted bush. It was the chokeybird; Dib would catch it and become famous for discovering a new kind of bird. Proving to everyone what he already knew.
Swiftly opening his backpack, he reached for his net, sneaking up to the bush. Dib lunged at the bush catching the poor defenseless bird. The yellow bird's beady eyes started into Dib's amber eyes to then suddenly transform into smooth ruby eyes, then its body into a green skin boy.
"Zim!" Dib cried out, shaking the net in surprise.
The alien opened his pak and brought out his laser gun, freeing himself from Dib's entangled prison. Kicking the net off the ledge he reverted his ruby eyes to his newly founded prisoner.
"Did you really think you could catch me THAT easily?" Smirking Zim pointed his gun at Dib. "Walk!"
With no choice, but to comply with the Irken's wishes he followed up the path with the laser gun pressed smartly against his back. Dib grew afraid on what was to happen. Zim wouldn't actually kill him...would he?
After hours on end walking upwards past rivers and steeps they made their way up to the highest ledge. As they grew closer to their destination the temperature rose. Hot air burned against Dib's and he began to feel quite uncomfortable in this heat.
His trench coat now soaked in sweat clung to Dib like a second skin. He looked at Zim, who seemed unaffected by the heat. He would make note of that if it weren't for the fact that they were up so high. A misleading step could end the life of the future paranormal investigator.
Sweat began to appear above Dib's brow as he was up on top of a volcano; down below was the boiling mass of hot lava. Realizing Zim's intention he tried to run away, but Zim's gloved hand shot out grabbing him. He had Dib by the neck hovering over the red bubbling mass that would seal his end.
"Zim...please don't do this. We can work something out." Dib pleaded glancing back and forth between the alien and the volcano.
"Squealing FOOL! Zim gives mercy to NO ONE!" Grinning evilly at Dib he lowered him even closer to the volcano. "My mission will run smoothly without you in it!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Dib screamed as Zim threw him into the fiery pit.
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Beep! Beep! Beep!
Dib awoke to the sound of his alarm clock. Subconsciously awake his hand moved clumsily around the table to hit the button. Hearing the beeping sound stop without touching it Dib opened his eyes to the person in front of him.
"Wake up Dib-stink!" Zim beamed down on him. His ruby eyes, reflecting brightly against the sun. Dib rubbed his eyes, picking up his glasses.
"Zim, your disguise!" Suddenly reminded that they were at his house, he couldn't let his dad and sister see Zim for what he was yet. Double taking a look over Zim he covering his hand over his mouth he tried to repress a laugh at the alien wearing clothes two to three times too big.
It looked like a 6-year-old playing dress up with grown up clothes on Zim. Shirt hanging down his knees and gym shorts tied as tightly as possible around Zim's waist. Zim's skinny legs were covered down to the knees and his stick arms poking out of the gigantic shirt.
"What?"
"Nothing...it looks good on you, that's it."
"Why were you screaming and squirming so much in your sleep?" Remembering Dib's sudden chaotic behavior during the night.
"I had a nightmare. You know when you dream about unpleasant things that seem so real in your sleep. I dreamed you threw me off a volcano. It felt so real...I could feel the hot lava scotching my skin..."
"I see..." Not fully understanding the concept of a dream he chuckled softly thinking of how he was the one that probably trigger the hot feeling against Dib's skin as he dreamt being thrown into a volcano.
The two supposed enemies stared down at each other for a bit. Remembering that he was only in his boxers Dib blushed. Turning away from Zim's piercing gaze he took out some clothes to change in.
"You can use the bathroom downstairs Zim, unless Gaz beat you to it then wait till I'm finished." Heading into the bathroom, locking it Dib brushed his teeth, washed his face, and combed and styled his hair.
Zim marched downstairs, through the living room, around the corner of the kitchen into his destination. Closing the door he too finished his morning business. Gir accompanying his master stood outside with a towel and mirror ready to be used.
Walking back into his room, Dib found Zim still sitting on his bed with Gir bouncing about the place.
"I think we should get dressed." Dib said in a muffled voice as he pulled a happy face T-shirt over his head. Tightening the belt of his pants he went over to pick up his coat, shoving needed papers into his backpack.
Zipping up his fuchsia dress looking thing Zim put on his boots and gloves. Managing his wig and carefully placing his contacts in he was ready to take on another day in Ms. Bitters's class or so he thought.
The two boys walked down the stairs finding the robot had beaten them to it. Raiding Dib's refrigerator Gir began toasting waffles. Gaz sitting at the breakfast table eating cereal and Professor Membrane eating toast.
"Hello Son! Morning to you too Dib's girlfriend. It's about time you started dating. I worry about you sometime...." Babbling on as he sipped his coffee reading the newspaper.
"WHAT?! Zim is not my girlfriend...he's not even a girl! You thought we were....DAD! We're only fourteen!"
"Heh..."Gaz chuckled darkly.
"Well boy or girl, don't make so much noise." With that Professor Membrane got up from his chair wiping his mouth. "I've much work to do so try not to disturb me. Nice to meet you Dib's boyfriend."
Getting his lab coat he walked down into the basement leaving three shocked and one unfazed robot at the table.
Dropping her cereal Gaz turned to Dib in disgust. "So that's why you sent the idiot robot to my room? Nice going Dib...Now I'm definitely going to have to destroy you."
Taking her bowl she went out of the kitchen into the living room to watch morning cartoons before going off to school. A gap formed between Dib's mouth as he hung there in shock.
Zim stood on the kitchen floor confused as hell. He didn't know what this "boyfriend" business was that the human and his father were speaking of. Was it some sort of mating ritual? And this "date" what did it entail?
Looking down at his clothes...did they resemble girl's clothing? His alien uniform did resemble some sort of dress, but was it so obvious that it turned people attention away from his real sex? It was somewhat of a pinkish color that was defining more of a feminine touch.
"Do I look like a girl Dib-Human?" Pointing at his clothes he awaited for Dib's final and honest answer.
"No...not really..your wig and body structure makes it a lot more obvious that you're a boy."
"So are you saying I need to change my look, to be more masculine?"
"I don't know. Whatever makes you feel more comfortable." Dib didn't want to get into the discussion of what would be appropriate to be wearing at school. Everyone had his or her own freakish style, as Ms. Bitters would put it.
A soft low rumble was heard from outside interrupting Zim and Dib's obscure conversation. Zim looked out to the window finding moisture collecting onto the surface fast. Heavy dark clouds covered the sky giving the morning a drearier look.
"It's raining..." Dib stated the obvious.
"Gah...." Dib glanced at Zim, who was cowering and whimpering in fear of water. Grabbing Dib's shirt collar he brought his lips very close to Dib's ear. It sounded like a quiet humming making Dib having to strain his ears to hear what Zim was saying.
It was simple and short....
"I don't want to go to school today."
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